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MERRY CHRISTMAS 
ENTERTAINMENTS 


RECITATIONS, DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 
DRILLS, MOTION SONGS, ACROSTICS 
TABLEAUX, PANTOMIMES, GAMES 
SONGS AND MUSIC 


EDITED BY 

JOSEPH C. SINDELAR 

AUTHOR OF 


Morning Exercises for All the Year 
The “Nixie Bunny” Books 
The Best Christmas Book 
Best Memory Gems 



BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY 
CHICAGO 





Copyright 1917 

BY 

JOSEPH C. SINDELAR 


® a 'A48iar>8 


Special thanks are due Marie Irish, M. Josephine 
Moroney, and Thomas B. Weaver for the fresh and excel¬ 
lent material which each furnished. Grateful acknowl¬ 
edgments are also made for selections which have been 
gathered from various sources.—J. C. S. 


DEC 3! 1917 


I 


CONTENTS 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 

PAGE 


At Christmas. 

Cherry-Tree Carol, The. 

Christmas Bells. 

Christmas Bird, A. 

Christmas Candles .... . 

Christmas Carol. 

Christmas Carol, A. 

Christmas Dilemma, A. 

Christmas Eve Adventure, A. 

Christmas Lullaby, A. 

Christmas Quotations. 

Christmas Wish, A. 

Christmas Wishes. 

Doing Its Best. 

Dolly’s Christmas. 

Ethiopian Santa, An. 

Father’s Presents. 

Funny Tale, A. 

Give. 

How I Played Santa. 

How We Acted. 

If. 

Impatient Waiter, An. 

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear 

It Helps. 

Jest ’F.ore Christmas. 

Lady Santa Claus, A. 

Little Wish, A. 

Molly’s Philosophy.. 

No Santa Claus. 

Piccola. 

Real Christmas Bells. 


. Alice E. Allen 

. :.. Old English 

.Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

. Alice E. Allen 

. Alice E. Allen 

. Phillips Brooks 

. Adelaide Anne Procter 


Marion Mitchell 


S. E. Kiser 


........Alice E. Allen 

M. Josephine Moroney 
. Wilbur Nesbit 


. Alice E. Allen 

. . .Adelaide Anne Procter 
Adapted by T. B. Weaver 

. T. B. Weaver 

. Alice E. Allen 


Edmund Hamilton Sears 

. Alice E. Allen 

. Eugene Field 

.. .T. B. Weaver 

. T.B. Weaver 


John Kendrick Bangs 

. Celia Thaxter 

. Alice E. Allen 


28 

35 

20 

15 

17 
32 
34 

18 
26 
25 
40 
22 

8 

10 


19 

8 

33 

11 

12 

11 

13 

39 

18 

37 

9 

7 . 

22 

29 

19 

13 


3 


































4 


CONTENTS 


Romany Christmas Song, A. 
Runaway Stockings, The .. 
Same Dear Old Santa, The. 
Santa Claus and the Mouse 

Signs of the Times. 

Sing a Song of Santa Claus 

To Miss Mistletoe. 

Twenty-Sixt ’, The. 

Two Little Stockings. 

Under the Holly Bough. ... 


page 

. Susie M. Best 25 

. Alice E. Allen 10 

. Winnie Gray Curtis 16 

. Emilie Poulsson 23 

... .Gladys Hyatt Sinclair 26 

. Marion Mitchell 9 

. Alice E. Allen 12 

. Wilbur Nesbit 30 

Adapted by T. B. Weaver 14 
. Charles M a clay 36 


MONOLOGUES AND READINGS 


Bill Jones’Neighbors. 50 

Elizabeth’s Christmas Presents . Marie Irish 48 

Somebody’s Picture . Marie Irish 45 

Writing to Santa Claus . Marie Irish 46 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 

Chips From the Yule Log . M. Josephine Moroney 82 

(For four boys) 

Christmas Spirit, The . M. Josephine Moroney 51 

(For four girls) 

Dickens’ Christmas Carol . Effie L. Bean 89 

(For nine boys and nine girls, and minor parts) 

Dolls’ Christmas Tree, The . M. Josephine Moroney 74 

(For four girls and one boy) 

Enchanted Boxes, The . Ruth 0. Dyer 83 

(For five girls and five boys) 

Fooling Santa . M. Josephine Moroney 52 

(For four children) 

Just Mother’s Little Girl . M. Josephine Moroney 54 

(For four girls) 

Mother’s Choice . M. Josephine Moroney 79 

(For four girls and one boy) 

Old Woman in the Shoe, The . Alberta Wall er 64 

(For. any number of children) 

Readies, The . M. Josephine Moroney 56 

(For six small boys and one larger one) 

Santa ’s Book . M. Josephine Moroney 69 

(For four boys and six girls) 



























CONTENTS 


5 

PAGE 

Spirit or Christmas, The. M. Josephine Moroney 77 

(For ten small girls and one larger one) 

Suggestion, A. Alice E. Alien 56 

(For three of the smallest pupils) 

Surprise for Santa, A . M. Josephine Moroney 59 

(For two girls and a boy) 

What Means Christmas? . M. Josephine Moroney 63 

(For two children) 

FANCY DRILLS AND MARCHES 

Christmas Bell Drill... .Ethel M. Hall 99 

(For twelve girls seven to nine years old) 

Christmas Flag Drill . Marie Irish 108 

(For seventeen children of the intermediate or grammar grades) 

Christmas Pennant Drill. Marie Irish 104 

(For ten or more girls, or five or more boys and an equal num¬ 
ber of girls of the intermediate grades) 

Christmas Star Drill. Marie Irish 144 

(For nine girls of the grammar grades) 

ChristmXs Wreaths and Garlands. M. Josephine Moroney 113 

(For eight girls) 

Dance of the Fairies.. Marie Irish 101 

(For twelve girls of the primary or intermediate grades) 

March of the Evergreens, The. Marie Irish 97 

(For eight or twelve children of the primary grades) 

MOTION SONGS AND ACROSTICS 


Christmas . 126 

(For nine children) 

Christmas Morn. Monira F. McIntosh 127 

(For thirteen children) 

Christmas Stockings. Marie Irish 122 

(For a number of boys) 

Christmas Time Is Near . School Education 121 

(For any number of children of the primary grades) 

Christmas Tree, The . Marie Irish 119 

(For ten or more children of the primary grades) 

John Grin and Joe Grouch. Marie Irish 124 

(For any even number of boys) 

Merry Christmas. Mary E. Jackson 128 

(For fourteen children) 




















6 


CONTENTS 


TABLEAUX 


PAGE 

Christmas Garland, A .!. Nora Archibald Smith 132 

(I, St. Nicholas; II, La Dame de Noel; III, Hans Trapp; IV, 
Babouscka; V, The Christmas Waits; VI, Jack Horner; VII, 

Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim; VIII, Carol of the Crutches; IX, 
Santa Claus) 

Christmas Star, The . Marie Irish 131 

Liberty’s Token . Marie Irish 129 

Merry Christmas . Marie Irish 130 

Vision of the Past, A . Marie Irish 129 


PANTOMIMED SONGS AND PANTOMIMES 

Christmas Eve Curiosity.. . Marie Irish 141 

Christmas Parade, A.• . Myrtle Brooker Peterson 145 

Night Before Christmas, The. Linda S. Connelly 145 

O Little Town of Bethlehem. Marie Irish 139 

Preparing for Christmas.. '.Marie Irish 142 

Silent Night. Marie Irish 137 


SONGS AND MUSIC 


Christmas Gifts . T. B. Weaver 158 

Christmas Is Coming . Marie Irish 151 

Dreary December . Marie Irish 149 

Hey! For a Merrie Christmas . T. B. Weaver 156 

Just Be Merry . Marie Irish 150 

Kriss Kringle . T. B. Weaver 154 

Old Santa Claus . M. Nora Boyle 151 

Santa, We ’ll Be Good . T. B. Weaver 152 

Sing a Song for Santa Claus . T. B. Weaver 153 


CHRISTMAS GAMES 

Christmas Bells . Bebecca Deming Moore 160 

Christmas Rhythms and Games . Nina B. Lamkin 159 

Christmas Stockings . Bebecca Deming Moore 160 

























MERRY CHRISTMAS 
ENTERTAINMENTS 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 

A LITTLE WISH 

T. B. WexWer 

Although I ’m very small, 

And little I can do, 

Yet I can wish to one and all 
A Merry Christmas, too. 


DOLLY’S CHRISTMAS 
M. Josephine Moroney 

Last night I took my dolly’s socks 
And hung them up with mine, 

In hopes that perhaps old Santa Claus 
Would bring her something fine. 

And, sure enough, on Christmas morn, 
I found—what do you think ? 

A pair of lovely little shoes 
To match her stockings pink. 

I think you will agree with me 
That Santa is a dear; 

He knew my dolly needed shoes, 

And so he hung these here. 


8 


MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


A FUNNY TALE 

Alice E. Allen 

The earth’s a big stocking 
Hanging in space; 

Old Christmas is Santa— 

Smiles on his face. 

He wreathes it with holly and trims it with chimes, 
And fills it way up to the brim with Good Times! 
How do I know? 

Why, a bell tolled me so! 

Primary Education 


CHRISTMAS WISHES 

Recitation for eight children. 

I’d like to be a snowflake 
At happy Christmas time. 

I ’d rather be some holly 
With berries red and fine. 

I ’d like to be a Christmas star 
Shining in the sky. 

I ’d like to be a Christmas bell 
Ringing sure and high. 

1 ’d like to be a Christmas tree 
With dolls and skates and toys. 

I’d like to be a stocking 

Full of things for girls and boys. 

I’d like to be old Santa Claus 
To give boys sleds and drums. 

1 ’d rather be a little girl 
When Christmas morning comes. 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 

A LADY SANTA CLAUS 
T. B, Weaver 


9 


If Santa Claus were once a boy 
And now is old and gray, 

And if he have no brother 
To take his place, some day; 

But if he have a sister. 

And his work should be hers, 

I wonder if to us she’d look 
All right in boots and furs"? 

She might make a good Santa 
When old Saint Nick is gone; 

But I hardly think she’d look just right 
Without the whiskers on. 


SING A SONG OF SANTA CLAUS 
Marion Mitchell 

Sing a song of Santa Claus, 

Dressed from head to toe 

In the warmest kind of clothes, 
Made of fur, you know. 

Face as rosy as can be, 

Eyes that dance with glee, 

And a heart that beats for us, 

Beats for you and me. 

Sing a song of Santa Claus, 

Do you ask us why? 

If you are a real good boy 
He 11 never pass you by. 


10 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 

DOING ITS BEST 

Alice E. Allen 

In a chime of bells 
So sweet and clear, 

The song of the angels 
You can hear— 

As if each little glad-hearted bell 
The story of Christmas tried to tell! 


THE RUNAWAY STOCKINGS 
Alice E. Allen 

Kecitation for a little boy or girl holding a filled but 
faded red stocking. 

The stockings in the fireplace, 

Do you know, 

They stole to look for Santa 
On tiptoe? 

But when they heard his sleigh bells, 

In a trice 

They whisked back to their places, 

Still as mice! 

But this wee red one could n’t 
Reach its nail, 

That’s why it looks, this morning, 

Sort of pale. 

Oh, yes, old Santa filled it— 

Have no fear— 

But just suppose he had n’t 
Oh, dear, dear! 

Primary Education 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 11 

HOW I PLAYED SANTA 
Adapted by T. B. Weaver 

Recitation for a little girl, 

As Christmas is coming, I’m anxious to tell 
How I once played Santa, I liked it so well. 

I got a large apple quite perfect and red 

And tied grandma’s name to it with a silk thread; 

Then in her work basket I hid it with care, 

And hoped she would think Santa Claus had been there. 

I watched till she found it. She said: “Who ’d have thought! 
This must be an apple that Santa Claus brought. ’ ’ 

I hid in a corner and laughed on the sly, 

To think grandma’s Santa was only just I. 

A case for his glasses I made my papa, 

And a neat little apron for precious mamma; 

[My grandma, she helped me to keep out of sight 
And to make little stitches and do it just right]. 

“Santa Claus even thinks of such old folks as we,” 

Said my papa that day as he called me to see; 

And mamma said sweetly, “Nothing nicer than this 
Could Santa have brought me,” and gave me a kiss. 

I like to play Santa, and since I ’ve begun 
I mean, every Christmas, to keep up the fun. 


IF 

Alice E. Allen 

If I were a Bell—a little Christmas Bell, 

I’d fill my little corner with such a silvery spell 

That all the bells should listen and all the bells should chime, 
A-wishing every one on earth, a “Merry Christmas Time!” 


12 


MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


HOW WE ACTED 
T. B. Weaver 

A concert recitation with actions. 

This is how we looked when we were told that we were bad, (1) 
And that Santa did not like such naughty little girls and 
boys; (2) 

But when we tried to be polite (3) we all looked pleased and 
glad; (4) 

And this is how we acted when we got our Christinas 
toys. (5) 

(1) Pupils wear the Grossest kind of faces. 

"(2) Pupils look disappointed. 

(3) Pupils look pleasant. 

(4) Pupils look glad. 

(5) Each pupil from his sleeve or clothes pulls out a funny stocking, 
and all try to see what is in the different stockings, in which are just a 
few small amusing articles; and as these are drawn out the pupils have 
a good time, as they naturally would at home, laughing and saying funny 
things and making cute remarks for a few minutes, when they retire 
from the stage. 


TO MISS MISTLETOE 
Alice E. Allen 

For a tiny child, with sprig or bough of mistletoe held high over her 
head, talking to it, and kissing it lightly on next to last line. 

0 you pretty little Miss, 

How your berries came, I know; 

Every single one’s a kiss— 

Listen, now, Miss Mistletoe! 

Christmas saw you, little Miss, 

Paused below you, tiptoe—so: 

And—like this, and this, and this— 

Kissed you, dear Miss Mistletoe! 

Primary Education 


13 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 

READ CHRISTMAS BELLS 
Alice E. Allen 
R ecitation for several children. 

We ’re Christmas Bells—one, two, three, four, 

Six, ten, twelve, twenty—maybe more— 

All decked with scarlet holly; 

When Christmas comes so hale and bluff, 

You ’ll find we have n’t tongues enough, 

Though they ’re so brisk and jolly, 

To tell of all the joy and mirth 
With which he fills the big round earth ; 

For all your little tongues are worth, 

Come, help us, Jack and Polly! 

Primary Education 


AN IMPATIENT WAITER 

Three hundred days and sixty-five, 

And every leap-year one'day more. 

And just one Christmas!—sakes alive ! 

They might at least have put in four! 

I don’t know who the people were 

That fixed things so, but I ’ll be bound 
That when they made the calendar 
There wasn’t any boy around. 

Oh, yes, when Christmas comes. I know, 

They give you skates and sleds and such ; 
They ’re nice, but when the ice and snow 
Are gone, they don’t amount to much. 

A football suit is what I need. 

A football, too, but now—to-day! 

And “Christmas coming”? Yes, indeed; 

But oh, it’s weeks and weeks away! 

Youth’s Companion 


14 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


TWO LITTLE STOCKINGS 

Adapted by T. B. Weaver 

Two little stockings hung side by side, 

Close to a fireplace broad and wide. 

“Two?” said Saint Nick, as down he came 
Loaded with toys and many a game. 

"Ho! ho!’’ with a wink and a laugh of fun, 

“I ’ll have no cheating, my pretty one; 

I know who dwells in this house, my dear, 

And truly just one little girl lives here.” 

So he crept up close to the chimney place 
And measured each sock with a sober face; 

Just then a neat little note fell out 
And fluttered down, like a bird about. 

‘ ‘ Aha! what’s this ? ’ ’ then he said in surprise 
As he pushed his specs up close to his eyes 
And read it with ease, as Santa Claus can. 

“Dear Saint Nicholas,”—so it began— 

‘ ‘ The other stocking you see on the wall 
I hung for a child named Clarabell Hall; 

She’s a poor little girl, but gentle and good, 

So I thought perhaps you, in kindness, would 
Fill up her small stocking, too, to-night, 

And help to make her Christmas also bright; 

If you ’ve not enough for both stockings there, 
Please put all in Clarabell’s—I shall not care.” 

Saint Nicholas brushed a tear from his eye, 

And “God bless you, darling,” he said with a sigh; 
Then softly he blew through the chimney high, 
When down came two of the funniest mortals 
That ever were seen this side of earth ’s portals. 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


15 


“Hurry up,” said Saint Nick, “and nicely prepare 
All a little girl wants where money is rare.” 

Then, oh! what a scene there was in that room! 

Away went the elves, but, down from the gloom 
Of the sooty old chimney, comes tumbling low 
A child’s whole wardrobe, from head to toe: 

And how Santa laughed when he gathered them in 
And fastened each one to a sock with a pin! 

Right to the toe he hung a blue dress. 

“She ’ll think it came from the sky, I guess,” 

He said as he smoothed out the folds of blue, 

And pinned a silk flag to each stocking, too. 

When all the warm clothes that were ordered by him 

Had been brought and each stocking was filled to the brim, 

Then Santa Claus tucked a rare toy here and there. 

And hurried away to the frosty air, 

Saying: “God pity the poor, and bless the dear child 
Who pities them too, on this night so wild.” 


The winds caught the words and bore them on high, 
Till they died away in the midnight sky; 

While Saint Nicholas flew through the icy air 
Bringing peace and good will with him everywhere. 


A CHRISTMAS BIRD 

Alice E. Allen 

Of songs to be sung 
Earth has so many. 

Of birds to sing them 
Scarcely any! 

What can one little snowbird do ? 
Why, just pipe loud enough for two! 


16 


MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


THE SAME DEAR OLD SANTA 

Winnie Gray Curtis 

Hear the bells jingle, 

For here comes Kriss Kringle, 

See, how he flies through the air, 

With warm boots and jacket, 

(He makes a great racket) 

With long beard and flowing white hair. 

Over house tops he’s riding, 

Down chimneys he’s sliding, 

With never a thought of fear. 

Now the stockings he’s Ailing— 

He always is willing— 

For Santa loves all children dear. 

Into bedrooms he’s peeping. 

Where children are sleeping, 

(For the sleepy man closes eyes tight) 

With a soft little chuckle, 

Underneath his belt buckle. 

He vanishes into the night. 

Then home Santa goes 
To thaw out his toes. 

And falls fast asleep by the fire. 

He dreams girls and boys 
Are all happy with toys. 

And that every child has his desire. 

Then he starts up in fear, 

For he dreams his reindeer 

Have been changed for an aeroplane! 

But his dreams melt away; 

And with reindeer and sleigh 
You ’ll be certain to see him again. 

Something to Do 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 17 

CHRISTMAS CANDLES 
Alice E. Allen 

For several children, with pretty motions and dance if desired. 

Said a little crimson candle to a candle all in green, 

As together on the Christinas tree their pretty heads did 
lean, 

“With glance so bright and dance so light, let’s try—just 
you and me— 

To set the night a-light with joy for every one to see!” 


But somehow all the candles—the dear Miss Netticoats— 
They heard the happy whisper—and cleared their sputtery 
throats. 

With glance so bright and dance so light with all her little 
heart, 

To set the night a-light with joy, each did her little part. 


Their little rays went such a-ways they set the room a-blaze. 
The fire saw and told the wind that in the chimney stays. 

The wind told all the snowflakes, the snowflakes' told each 
breeze, 

The breezes told the other fires, the fires the other trees. 


Old candles told the gold ones, the gold ones told the blue. 
The blue ones told the new ones, till every candle knew. 

With glance so bright and dance so light, on every Christmas 
tree, 

They set the night a-light with joy for every one to see. 


The Moon-Man laughed to see them—it was a pretty sight— 
Ten million billion candles all dancing in the night! 

The stars rushed out together—with twinkles in their 
eyes— 

And for each candle on the earth they lit one in the skies! 

Primary Education 


18 


.MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


IT HELPS 

Alice E. Allen 

So much to do at Christmas, 
His share no one must shirk, 
But is there any reason why 
We can’t sing while we work f 


A CHRISTMAS DILEMMA 

What shall dollie have for Christmas? 

I’ve been thinking all day long, 

For I want to ask old Santa, 

And I must n’t get it wrong. 


Would a new hat be the nicest, 
With a bow and feather, too ? 

Or a bran new dress for Sundays, 
Or a nicer sash of blue ? 


I know she needs a pair of slippers. 

Pink ones—they’d be very nice; 
But I want the very best thing 
That he ’ll bring for any price. 


And she has so many dresses. 

All the clothes and things, you know, 
That used to be my other dollie’s, 

My dear old Arabella Jo. 


That’s the one I broke last summer. 

And you don’t know how I’ve missed her, 
O Santa Claus! I ’ve thought of something— 
Bring my doll a nice, new.sister. 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 
FATHER’S PRESENTS 


19 


Same old pipe for father, 

Same old socks for dad, 

Same old Christmas presents 
That every year he’s had. 

Same old carpet slippers, 

Same old white shirt, too; 

No one thinks of buying 
Father something new. 

Same old three-ply collars, 

Same old things to wear; 

Same old phony cuff links— 

Fifty cents a pair. 

Every Christmas morning 
Father wakes to find 

The same old bunch of presents— 

Are n’t his loved ones kind ? 

Detroit Free Press 


PICCOLA 
Celia Thaxter 

Poor, sweet Piccola! Did you hear 
What happened to Piccola, children dear? 

’T is seldom Fortune such favor grants 
As fell to this little maid of France. 

’T was Christmas time, and her parents poor 
Could hardly drive the wolf from the door, 
Striving with poverty’s patient pain 
Only to live till summer again. 

No gifts for Piccola! Sad were they 
When dawned the morning of Christmas Day; 
Their little darling no joy might stir. 

St. Nicholas nothing would bring to her. 


20 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


But Piccola never doubted at all 
That something beautiful must befall 
Every child upon Christmas Day, 

And so she slept till dawn was gray. 

And full of faith, when at last she woke, 

She stole to her shoe as the morning broke; 

Such sounds of gladness filled the air, 

’T was plain St. Nicholas had been there! 

In rushed Piccola, sweet, half wild: 

Never was seen such a joyful child. 

“See what the good saint brought!” she cried, 
And mother and father must peep inside. 

Now such a story who ever heard ? 

There was a shivering little bird! 

A sparrow, that in at the window flew, 

Had crept into Piccola’s tiny shoe! 

“How good poor Piccola must have been !” 

She cried, as happy as any queen, 

While the starving sparrow she fed and warmed, 
And danced with rapture, she was so charmed. 

Children, this story I tell to you, 

Of Piccola sweet and her bird, is true. 

In the far-off land of France, they say, 

Still do they live to this very day. 


CHRISTMAS BELLS 

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

I heard the bells on Christmas Day 
Their old, familiar carols play, 

And wild and sweet 
The words repeat, 

Of peace on earth, good will to men! 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


21 


And thought how, as the day had come, 
The belfries of all Christendom 
Had rolled along 
The unbroken song 
Of peace on earth, good will to men! 


Till, ringing, singing on its way, 

The world revolved from night to day, 
A voice, a chime, 

A chant sublime 

Of peace on earth, good will to men! 


Then from each black, accursed mouth 
The cannon thundered in the South, 
And with the sound 
The carols drowned 
Of peace on earth, good will to men! 


It was as if an earthquake rent 
The hearth-stones of a continent, 
And made forlorn 
The households born 
Of peace on earth, good will to men! 


And in despair I bowed my head; 
“There is no peace on earth,” I said; 
“For hate is strong. 

And mocks the song 
Of peace on earth, good will to men!” 


Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: 
‘ ‘ God is not dead; nor doth he sleep! 

The Wrong shall fail, 

The Right prevail, 

With peace on earth, good will to men ! ’' 


22 


MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


A CHRISTMAS WISH 

S. E. Kiser 

1 wish you all the worthiness 
I’ve ever wished 1 might possess; 

I wish you, be you girl or boy, 

A boundless store of righteous joy. 

I wish you strength, I wish you health 
And wealth, if you have longed for wealth; 
1 wish you gladness and good cheer— 

Not for to-day—but for all the year. 

I wish you, be you young or old, 

A heart that never shall be cold, 

And, be you great or be you small, 

I wish you charity for all. 

I wish you all the happiness 
That I have wished I might possess, 

But, more than all, that in defeat 

Your hopes may live, your dreams be sweet. 


MOLLY’S PHILOSOPHY 

“I’m glad that things are fixed just right,” 
Said Molly in her play. 

‘ ‘ Before of one thing I am tired 
Another’s on the way. 

“First New Year’s day leads all the rest, 
Then Valentine’s for fun. 

Next, skating, sliding on the snow, 

And then the winter’s done. 

“It ’s just the dearest thing to watch 
The growing things in spring, 

With maple-sugar first, then flowers, 

And every pretty thing. 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


23 


“I dearly love the summer-time, 

To play the whole day through, 

And never have to stop and warm, 

Put on my rubbers, too. 

“ I ’m sure I ’m every bit as glad 
When school time’s really here 
As I was on the day it closed— : 

I love the whole long year. 

“For always there are happy times 
All coming right away. 

Thanksgiving, Easter, and the Fourth, 

Or dear old Christmas Day.” 

Yon th ’s Companion 


SANTA CLAUS AND THE MOUSE 
Emilie Poulsson 

One Christmas Eve, when Santa Claus 
Came to a certain house, 

To fill the children’s stockings there, 

He found a little mouse. 

“A merry Christmas, little friend,” 
Said Santa, good and kind. 

‘ ‘ The same to you, sir, ’ ’ said the mouse • 
1 ‘ I thought you would n’t mind 

“If I should stay awake to-night 
And w r atch you for awhile.” 

“You ’re very welcome, little mouse,” 
Said Santa with a smile. 

And then he filled the stockings up 
Before the mouse could wink— 

From toe to top, from top to toe 
There was n’t left a chink. 


24 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


‘‘Now they won’t hold another thing, 

Said Santa Claus with pride. 

A twinkle came in mousie’s eyes, 

But humbly he replied : 

“It’s not polite to contradict, 

Your pardon I implore— 

But in the fullest stocking there 
1 could put one thing more.” 

‘ ‘ Oh, ho! ” laughed Santa. ‘ ‘ Silly mouse, 
Don’t I know how to pack? 

By filling stockings all these years, 

I should have learned the knack. ” 

And then he took the stocking down 
From where it hung so high, 

And said: “Now put in one thing more; 

I give “you leave to try.” 

The mousie chuckled to himself, 

And then he softly stole 

Right to the stocking’s crowded toe 
And gnawed a little hole! 

“Now, if you please, good Santa Claus, 

I’ve put in one thing more; 

For you will own that little hole 
Was not in there before.” 

How Santa Claus did laugh and laugh! 
And then he gaily spoke: 

“Well, you shall have a Christmas cheese 
For that nice little joke.” 

If you don’t think this story true, 

Why! I can show to you 

The very stocking with the hole 
The little mouse gnawed through. 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 25 

A CHRISTMAS LULLABY 
Marion Mitchell 

Sleep, little one, in your tiny white bed, 

Mother bends lovingly o’er your dear head. 

Long years ago on the sweet-scented hay 
The dear little Christ-Child so peacefully lay. 

Lullaby, lullaby, 

Baby of mine. 

Lullaby, lullaby, 

His w T ays be thine. 

Sleep, baby mine, as your dear Saviour slept, 

While His own mother a loving watch kept; 

Singing to Him, as I’m singing to thee, 

Songs that the kine heard on low bended knee. 

Lullaby, lullaby, 

Baby of mine. 

Lullaby, lullaby, 

His ways be thine. 


A ROMANY CHRISTMAS SONG 

Susie M. Best 

Oh, it’s roam ! roam ! 

For the world is wide, 

And I am a gypsy rover! 

But it’s home! home! 

At Christmas-tide, 

Though I cross the world half over! 

Oh, it’s rove ! rove ! 

O’er the world away, 

For I am a Romany! 

But it’s love! love! 

On Christmas Day 

That brings me back to thee! 


MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


SIGNS OF THE TIMES 

’ Gladys Hyatt Sinclair 

Smiles on the faces as people go past, 

Squeaks in the snow when they hurry so fast, 
Meetings and greetings so merry and glad, 

Wishings and winkings all “Santa Claus mad”; 
Laughter that bubbles and merry wee feet, 

Holly wreaths hung all the way down the street, 

See the green Christmas trees frostily pearl’d— 
Christmas is coming—there’s joy in the world! 

Loving hands busy by day and by night, 

Loving hearts beating all buoyant and light, 

Secrets and whispers and mystery rife, 

Doors that dare close e’en between man and wife, 
Parcels and packages, bundle and box, 

Can’t someone hurry those stupid old clocks ? 

Santa Claus waits on his trip to be whirled— 
Christmas is coming—there’s joy in the world! 

St. Nicholas 


A CHRISTMAS EVE ADVENTURE 

Once on a time, in a queer little town 
On the shore of the Zuyder Zee, 

When all the good people were fast asleep 
A strange thing happened to me! 

Alone, the night before Christmas, 

I sat by the glowing fire, 

Watching the flame as it rose and fell, 

While the sparks shot high and higher. 

Suddenly one of these sparks began 
To flicker and glimmer and wink 
Like a big bright eye, till I hardly knew 
What to do or to say or to think. 



RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


27 


Quick as a flash, it changed to a face, 

And what in the world did I see 
But dear old Santa Claus nodding his head, 

And waving his hand to me! 

“Oh! follow me, follow me!” soft he cried,— 

And up through the chimney with him 
I mounted, not daring to utter a word 
Till we stood on the chimney’s rim. 

‘ ‘ Now tell me, I beg you, dear Santa Claus, 

Where am I going with you ? ’ ’ 

He laughingly answered, ‘ ‘ Why, don’t you know ? 
To travel the wide world through! 

“From my crystal palace, far in the North, 

I have come since dark,—and see 
These curious things for the little folk 
Who live on the Zuyder Zee.” 

Then seating himself in his reindeer sledge, 

And drawing me down by his side, 

He whistled, and off on the wings of the wind 
We flew for our midnight ride. 

But first, such comical presents he left 
For the little Dutch girls and boys,— 

Onions and sausages, wooden-faced dolls, 

Cheeses, and gingerbread toys! 

Away we hurried far to the South, 

To the beautiful land of France; 

And there we showered the loveliest gifts,— 
Flaxen-haired dolls that could dance, 

Soldiers that marched at the word of command, 
Necklaces, bracelets, and rings, 

Tiny gold watches, all studded with gems, 

And hundreds of exquisite things. 


28 


MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


Crossing the Channel, we made a short call 
In Scotland and Ireland, too; 

Left a warm greeting for England and Wales, 
Then over the ocean we flew 

Straight to America, where by myself, 
Perched on a chimney high, 

I watched him scramble and bustle about 
Between the earth and the sky. 

Many a stocking he filled to the brim, 

And numberless Christmas trees 

Burst into bloom at his magical touch ! 

Then, all of a sudden, a breeze 

Caught us and bore us away to the South, 

And afterward blew us “out West”; 

And never till dawn peeped over the hills 
Did we stop for a moment’s rest. 

“Christmas is coming!” he whispered to me, 
“You can see his smile in the sky,— 

I wish Merry Christmas to all the world! 

My work is over,—good-bye!” 

Like a flash he was gone, and I was alone,— 
For all of this happened to me 

Once on a time, in a queer little town 
On the shore of the Zuyder Zee! 


AT CHRISTMAS 
Alice E. Allen 

0 the sights, the sights of Christmas! 

Earth all green and crimson things; 
Lights a-twinkling, snowflakes sparkling. 
Till you think they ’re angel wings. 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


29 


0 the sounds, the sounds of Christmas! 

Songs, with sleigh bells flashing through; 
Voices, laughter rippling after, 

Till you find you ’re laughing too. 

O the scents, the scents of Christmas! 

Fires, flowers, pine, and spruce, 

All together, can’t tell whether 
You for tears or smiles have use. 

0 the touch, the touch of Christmas! 

Held within its tender sway, 

Had you treasure in rich measure, 

You would give it all away! 

Primary Education 


NO SANTA CLAUS ? 

John Kendrick Bangs 

If it be true, as some do say, 

That there’s no Santa Claus, 

What is this Spirit on the way 
That never seems to pause, 

When Christmas chimes are sounding clear 
Upon the frosty night, 

In spreading splendid gifts of cheer 
In every mortal’s sight? 

What is this sense of glow divine 
That comes to you and me 
When watching all that happy line 
Of children round-the tree? . 

Whence comes this mantling atmosphere, 

So full of sweet release, 

That falls about us once a year 
And covers us with peace ? 


30 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 

No Santa Claus? Oh, men 'of doubt, 

Whence comes this sorry claim? 

Would you so fair a spirit flout 
For reasons of a name ? 

Dear Santa Claus is everywhere 
Where hearts are true and kind, 

And where there’s love of man, ’t is there 
His presence rare we find! 

Harper’s Weekly 


THE TWENTY-SIXT’ 

Wilbur Nesbit 

I ’ve washed my face an’ combed my hair, 
An ’ not forgot to say my prayer; 

An’ never jerked or slammed the door, 

Nor gone a-slidin’ on the floor. 

Because four weeks ago I knew 

That Christmas Day would soon be due— 

I’m waitin’ for the twenty-sixt’! 

I’ve had a thousand chances where 
I might ’a’ yanked somebody’s chair; 

I ’ve seen a thousand dandy ways 
Where I might do some things to raise 
The dickens, but I’ve had to wait 
Till Christmas is wiped off the slate— 

I’m waitin’ for the twenty-sixt’! 

Three nights a week I’ve set an’ read 
Until ’t was time to go to bed, 

When I was tempted strong to go 
An’ tease my sister an’ her beau . 

Three nights a week her beau has smiled 
An’ said I am a model child-— 

I’m waitin’ for the twenty-sixt’! 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


31 


I’ve been the best boy in the school, 
Learned everything an’ broke no rule; 
The teacher tells the other boys 
To notice how I make no noise, 

An’ how I get my answers right, 

An’ how I always am polite— 

I’m waitin’ for the twenty-sixt’! 


I’ve gone to Sunday-school each week 
An’ told why Moses was so meek, 

An’ who was Cain, an’ all about 
The way Golia’ got knocked out. 

The teacher Sunday told my ma 
I’m the best boy she ever saw— 

I’m waitin’ for the twenty-sixt’! 


An’ yesterday a man went by 
Who wore a plug-hat two feet high; 

I had a snowball, an’ I itched 

An’ squirmed, an’ all my fingers twitched 

To sock it one, but I did not. 

A boy must sacrifice a lot— 

I’m waitin’ for the twenty-sixt’! 


Oh, Christmas comes but once a year, 

But it’s a long time gettin’ here! 

It’s hard to do just what you should; 

It’s hard to keep on bein’ good 
When wall-eyed Walter King comes by 
An ’ yells, ‘ ‘ Fight me! Yon dassen’t try ! ’ ’ 
I’m waitin ’ for the twenty-sixt ’! 


From The Land of Make-Believe. Copyright, 1907, 
by Harper & Brothers. 


MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


CHRISTMAS CAROL 
Phillips Brooks 

The earth has grown old with its burden of care, 

But at Christmas it always is young, 

The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair. 

And its soul full of music bursts forth on the air, 
When the song of the angels is sung. 

It is coming, Old Earth, it is coming to-night! 

On the snowflakes which cover thy sod 
The feet of the Christ-Child fall gentle and white, 

And the voice of the Christ-Child tells out with delight 
That mankind are the children of God. 

On the sad and the lonely, the wretched and poor, 

The voice of the Christ-Child shall fall; 

And to every blind wanderer open the door 
Of hope that he dared not to dream of before, 

With a sunshine of welcome for all. 

The feet of the humblest may walk in the field 
Where the feet of the Holiest trod, 

This, then, is the marvel to mortals revealed 
When the silvery trumpets of Christmas have pealed, 
That mankind are the children of God. 


AN ETHIOPIAN SANTA 
Wilbur Nesbit 

“Mawnin’, sistali Johnsing. Mawnin', brothah Green. 
Hope de fines’ Chris’mas yo’ has evah seen. 

Hope yo’ white folks treat yo’ moughty well an’ good— 
Gib yo’ all a ’membunce, lak dey sholy should. 

Lawzy! Whut dat roas’in’? I cain’t undehstan'. ) 
Santy Claus dat fotch hit uz a cullud man. 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


.33 


“Um-m-mpuh! Sistah Johnsing, sholy clat smell sweet! 
Seem to me yo’ cookin ’ simply cain’t be beat. 

Bress mah soul, hit possum! Lawd, now, look at dat! 
Juice is des a-oozin’ fum lie side so fat! 

Lan’ o’ grace! De gravy mought-nigh fill de pan. 

Golly! Guess dat Santy uz a cullud man! 

'‘Tell yo’, sistah Johnsing, I don’t want no pie; 

Des gib me some possum. Um-m-m! Den lemme die! 
Leave de white man’s tukkey on de highes’ roos’— 
Lemme cyahve dat possum. Sistah, tu ’n me loose! 

Bress de Lawd fo’ possum—fines’ in de lan’; 

T ’ank de Lawd dat Santy uz a cullud man! ’ ’ 

Prom The Land op Make-Believe. Copyright, 1907, 
by Harper & Brothers. 


GIVE 

Adelaide Anne Procter 

See the rivers flowing 
Downward to the sea. 
Pouring all their treasures 
Bountiful and free: 

Yet to help their giving 
Hidden springs arise; 

Or, if need be, showers 
Peed them from the skies! 

Watch the princely flowers 
Their rich fragrance spread, 
Load the air with perfumes. 
From their beauty shed; 
Yet their lavish spending 
Leaves them not in dearth. 
With fresh life replenished 
By their mother earth! 


MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


Give thy heart's best treasures,— 
From fair Nature learn; . 

Give thy love—and ask not, 

Wait not a return!- 
And the more thou spendest 
From thy little store, 

With a double bounty 
God will give thee more. 


A CHRISTMAS CAROL 

Adelaide Anne Procter 

The moon that now is shining, 

In skies so blue and bright, 

Shone ages since on shepherds 

Who watched their flocks by night; 
There was no sound upon the earth, 

The azure air was still, 

The sheep in quiet clusters lay 
Upon the grassy hill. 

When lo! a white-winged angel 
The watchers stood before, 

And told how Christ was born on earth, 
For mortals to adore; 

He bade the trembling shepherds 
Listen, nor be afraid, 

And told how in a manger 
The glorious Child was laid. 

When suddenty in the heavens 
Appeared an angel band, 

The while in reverent wonder 
The Syrian shepherds stand, 

And all the bright host chanted 
Words that shall never cease— 
Glory to God in the highest, 

On earth good will and peace. 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 35 

The vision in the heavens 
Faded and all was still; 

And the wondering shepherds left their flocks 
To feed upon the hill; 

Toward the blessed city 

Quickly their course they held 

And in a lowly stable 

Virgin and Child beheld. 

Beside a humble manger 

Was the maiden-mother mild, 

And in her arms her Son divine, 

A new-born Infant smiled. 

No shade of future sorrow 
From Calvary then was cast; 

Only, the glory was revealed, 

The suffering was not past. 

The Eastern kings before Him knelt, 

And rarest offerings brought; 

The shepherds worshiped and adored 
The wonders God had wrought. 

They saw the crown for Israel’s King; 

The future’s glorious part; 

But all these things thp mother kept, 

And pondered in her heart. 


THE CHERRY-TREE CAROL 

As Joseph was a-walking, 

He heard an angel sing : 

“This night shall be the birth-time 
Of Christ, the heavenly King. 

“He neither shall be born 
In housen nor in hall. 

Nor in the place of paradise, 

But in an ox’s stall. 


36 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


“He neither shall be clothed 
In purple nor in pall, 

But in the fair white linen 
That usen babies all. 

“He neither shall be rocked 
In silver nor in gold, 

But in a wooden manger 
That resteth on the mould.’’ 

As Joseph was a-walking, 

There did an angel sing. 

And Mary’s child at midnight 
Was born to be our King. 

Then be ye glad, good people, 

This night of all the year, 

And light ye up your candles, 

For His star it shineth clear. 

Old English 


UNDER THE HOLLY BOUGH 

Charles Mackay 

Ye who have scorned each other, 
Or injured friend or brother, 

In this fast fading year: 

Ye who, by word or deed, 

Have made a kind heart bleed, 
Come gather here. 

Let sinned against, and sinning, 
Forget their strife’s beginning, 
And join in friendship now : 

Be links no longer broken, 

Be sweet forgiveness spoken, 
Under the Holly Bough. 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


37 


Ye who have loved each other, 

Sister and friend and brother, 

In this fast fading year: 

Mother and sire and child, 

Young man and maiden mild, 

Come gather here. 

And let your hearts grow fonder, 

As memory shall ponder 
Each past unbroken vow. 

Old loves and younger wooing 
Are sweet in the renewing, 

Under the Holly Bough. 

Ye who have nourished sadness, 

Estranged from hope and gladness, 

In this fast fading year; 

Ye, with overburdened mind. 

Made aliens from your kind, 

Come gather here. 

Let not the useless sorrow 
Pursue you night and morrow. 

If e’er you hoped, hope now— 

Take heart;—uncloud your faces, 

And join in our embraces, 

Under the Holly Bough. 

JEST ’FORE CHRISTMAS 
Eugene Field 

Father calls me William, sister calls me Will, 

Mother calls me Willie, but the fellers call me Bill! 

Mighty glad I ain’t a girl—ruther be a boy, [leroy! 

Without them sashes, curls, an’ things that’s worn by Faunt- 
Love to chawnk green apples an’ go swimmin’ in the lake— 
Hate to take the castor-ile they give for bellyache! [on me. 
’Most all the time, the whole year round, there ain’t no flies 
But jest ’fore Christmas I ’m as good as I kin be! 


38 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


Got a yeller dog named Sport, sick him on the cat; 

First thing she knows she does n’t know where she is at! 
Got a clipper sled, an ’ when us kids goes out to slide, 
’Long comes the 'grocery cart, an ’ we all hook a ride! 

But sometimes when the grocery man is worrited an ’ cross, 
He reaches at us with his whip, an’ larrups up his hoss, 
An’ then I laff an’ holler, “Oh, ye never teched me!” 
But jest ’fore Christmas I’m as good as I kin be! 


Gran’ma says she hopes that when I git to be a man, 

I ’ll be a missionarer like her oldest brother, Dan, 

As was et up by the cannibuls that lives in Ceylon’s Isle, 
Where every prospeck pleases, an ’ only man is vile ! 

But gran’ma she has never been to see a Wild West show. 
Nor read the Life of Daniel Boone, or else I guess she’d know 
That Buff’lo Bill an’ cow-boys is good enough for me! 

Excep’ jest ’fore Christmas, when I’m good as I kin be! 


And then old Sport he hangs around, so solemnlike an’ still. 
His eyes they seem a-sayin’: “What’s the matter, little Bill?’' 
The old cat sneaks down off her perch an’ wonders what ’s 
become 

Of them two enemies of hern that used to make things hum ! 
But I am so perlite an’ ’tend so earnestly to biz, 

That mother says to father: “How improved our Willie is-!” 
But father, havin’ been a boy hisself, suspicions me 
When, jest ’fore Christmas, I’m as good as I kin be! 


For Christmas, with its lots an’ lots of candies, cakes, an’ 
toys, 

Was made, they say, for proper kids an’ not for naughty boys; 
So wash yer face an’ bresh yer hair, an’ mind yer p’s and q’s! 
An’ don’t bust out yer pantaloons, and don’t wear out yer 
shoes; 

Sc-y “Yessum” to the ladies, an’ “Yessur” to the men, 

An’ when they’s company, don’t pass yer plate for pie ? again: 
But, thinkin’ of the things yer’d like to see upon that°tree! 
Jest ’fore Christmas be as good as yer kin be! 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 

IT CAME UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR 
Edmund Hamilton Sears 

It came upon the midnight clear, 

That glorious song of old, , 

From angels bending near the earth 
To touch their harps of gold: 

Peace on the earth, good will to men, 
From heaven’s all gracious King. 

The world in solemn stillness lay 
To hear the angels sing. 

Still through the cloven skies they come, 
With peaceful w T ings unfurled; 

And still their heavenly music floats 
0 ’er all the weary world: 

Above its sad and lowly plains 
They bend on hovering wing, 

And ever o’er its Babel sounds 
The blessed angels sing. 

Yet with the woes of sin and strife 
The world has suffered long. 

Beneath tfie angel strain have rolled 
Two thousand years of wrong; 

And man at war with man hears not 
The love song that they bring; 

Oh, hush the noise, ye men of strife, 

And hear the angels sing. 

O ye beneath life’s crushing load, 

Whose forms are bending low, 

Who toil along the climbing way 
With painful steps and slow, 

Look now! for glad and golden hours 
Come swiftly on the wing: 

Oh, rest beside the weary road, 

And hear the angels sing. 


39 


40 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


•• For lo! the days are hastening on, 

By prophet bards foretold, 

When with the ever-circling years 
Comes round the age of gold; 

When peace shall over all the earth 
Its ancient splendors fling, 

And the whole world send back the song 
Which now the angels sing. 


CHRISTMAS QCOTATIONS 

Swinging o ’er the hill; * 

Ringing sweet and still; 

Bringing peace, good will— 

Hark, the soft and silvery chime 
Of the bells at Christmas time! 

Alice E. Allen 

We loved the springtime’s sun and rain, 

We longed for summer’s rose again, 

We loved the autumn’s golden grain — 

We love the winter’s cold! 

Dora Read (loodale 

December’s come, and with Her brought 
A world in whitest marble wrought. 

Frank Dempster Sherman 

December’s brow is white with snow 
As swift his crackling footsteps go 
O’er hill and dale, o’er mount and sea, 
December laughs in noisy glee, 

While merry bells ring sweet and clear. 

And Christmas crowns the dying year. 

Rath Raymond 


Sing, Christmas bells! 

Say to the earth this is the morn 
Whereon our Saviour-King is born. 

Eugene Field 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 41 

“A merry, merry Christmas!” 

The little people say. 

“We wish yon all a happy time 
Upon this Christmas Day.” 

Secrets everywhere you go! 

Long black stockings in a row, 

Wreaths of holly, bells that chime, 

* That is jolly Christmas time. 

A little fir grew in the midst of the wood, 

Oh, there in his evergreen dress he stood; 

Iiis branches were sweet with the balsam smell. 

ITis needles were green where the white snow fell. 

And always contented and happy was he.— 

The very best kind of a Christmas tree. 

Henry Van Dyke 

Where Santa Claus lives 
There is no one that knows, 

Nor where Santa comes from, 

Nor whither he goes; 

But always and always 
At each Christmastide 
Abroad in his sleigh 

Does old Santa Claus ride. 

A song in heaven, 

A bell on earth, 

Are telling again 
A Baby’s birth— 

Glory in heaven, 

Good will on earth! 

Alice E. Allen 


Skies may be dark with storm 
While fierce the north wind blows, 

Yet earth at heart is warm, 

And the snowdrift hides the rose. 

Celia Thaxter 


42 


MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


There’s a dear old tree, an evergreen tree, 

And it blossoms once a year; 

’T is loaded with fruit from tip to root, 

And it brings to all good cheer. 

For its blossoms bright are candles white, 

And its fruit is dolls and toys, 

And they re all free for both you and me 
If we ’re good little girls and boys. 

Hang up your stocking, put out the light, 

The Saint of the children is coming to-night; 

Just peer up the chimney and jump into bed. 

And shut your eyes tight when the good-nights are said. 

Hurrah ! for the Merry Christmas tree, 

Hurrah! for its branches tall! 

Hurrah! for jolly old Santa Claus. 

Merry Christmas, one and all! 

Of all the good days in the year! 

A good time, a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time! 

It has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, “God 
bless it!’’ 

Clash, clang, hammer; ding, dong bell. Bell, ding, dong; 
hammer, clang, clash! Oh, glorious, glorious! 

Dickens 


I still may hear the Christmas angels singing in humble 
human hearts. 


Winifred * K irkland 


Summer fading, winter comes— 

Frosty mornings, tingling thumbs. 

Water now is turned to stone 
Nurse and I can walk upon; 

Still we find the flowing brooks 
In the picture story books. 

Robert Louis Stevenson 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


43 


Give the gentle word, the kindly glance, 

Be sweet and tender—that is doing good! 

If you’ve anything to give, 

That another's joy may live, 

Give it! 

For those who think of others most 
* Are the happiest folks that live. 

Phoebe Cary 

« 

We are little candles burning in the night, 

In the world is darkness, so we must shine, 

You in your corner, and I in mine! 

Anna B. Warner 

What does it mean when the days are short? 

When the leaves are gone*and the brooks are dumb? 
When the fields are white with the drifting snow? 

These are the signs that winter has come! 

M. E. N. Hathaway 

Black are my steps on silver sod; 

Thick blows my frosty breath abroad; 

And tree and house, and hill and lake. 

Are frosted like a wedding cake. 

Bobert Louis Stevenson 

Little frost flowers on the pane, 

Little snow stars in the air, 

Winter brings to us again 
Lovely pictures everywhere. 


These winter nights, against my window pane 
Nature with busy pencil draws designs 
Of ferns and blossoms and fine sprays of pines, 
Oak-leaf and acorn and fantastic vines. 

Thomas Bailey Aldrich 


44 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


Now, Christmas is come. 

Let us beat up the drum, 

And call all our neighbors together; 

And when they appear. 

Let us make them such cheer. 

As will keep out the wind and the weather! 

Old Rhyme 


Give only loving gifts ! 

Emilie Fouls son 


The best of Christmas joy, 

Dear little girl or boy, 

That comes on that merry-making day, 

Is the happiness of giving 
To another child that’s living 
Where Santa Claus has never found his way. 

’T is the time of the year for the open hand, 

And the tender heart and true, 

When a rift of heaven has cleft the skies 
And the saints are looking through. 

The flame leaps high where the hearth was -drear. 
And sorrowful eyes look bright, 

For a message, dear, that all may hear 
Is borne on the Christmas light, 

Margaret Songster 

Every pine and fir and hemlock 
Wore ermine too dear for an earl, 

And the poorest twig on the elm-tree 
Was ridged inch deep with pearl. 

Lowell 


Bring in the trailing forest-moss. 

Bring cedar, fir, and pine. 
****** 

Bring cross and garland from the snow. 

And keep vour Christmas green ! 

Lucy Larcom 


MONOLOGUES AND READINGS 


HOMEBODY’S PICTURE 


Marie Irish 

Monologue for a little girl. 

Girl comes on stage with her dolly, which she places in a 
little chair; then sits beside her with a book or magazine 
containing a picture of Santa Claus. 

Now, dolly dear, you sit up nice and straight in your chair 
and pay attention, ’cause 1 have something to show you. 
What’s that? You want a piece of candy? W’y, Dorothy, 
you jus’ had a piece a little while ago. Don’t you know it’s 
bad for the health to eat too much candy ? ’Sides, to-morrow 
is Christmas and we ’re sure to have a lot of candy then. 
No [shakes finger at dolly], it won’t do you a bit of good to 
tease for it, ’cause you can’t have any more to-day. Now, 
1 want to show you a nice picture. What do you say? Is 
it a picture of a bear? No, of course not. An’, ’sides, you 
needn’t look scared—a bear can’t hurt you if he’s in a 
picture. 

Now, just look [shows dolly picture of Santa] I Isn’t he 
a nice old man? Do you know who he is? You don’t [in sur¬ 
prise ]? W’y, I ’m s’prised at you, Dorothy! This is Mr. 
Santa Claus, who brings all the children presents. Don’t 
you think he’s drefful fat? I’m sure Mrs. Santa Claus 
must be a splendid cook, ’cause he looks like he ate an awful 
lot. Don’t you think that’s a nice, warm cap he’s got on? 
He has to wear that, ’cause he lives way up North, where it’s 
terrible cold. You ’ve been a real good dolly all the year, so 
I’m sure Santa Claus will bring you something nice for 
Christmas. What do you want? What? Some candy? 
W’y, you ought to wish for something sens’ble, like slippers 
or a new dress. I hope he ’ll bring you a blue dress and a 
nice little trunk to keep your clothes in. Wouldn’t that be 

45 


46 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 

lovely ? But don't look cross, ’cause you can have some candy, 
too. 

Now, Dorothy, what did I say this nice man’s name is? 
What? You can’t remember? Dear me, you’re awful for- 
gettery. Ilis last name is jus’ like something a cat has. Can’t 
you think? What? No, of course it isn’t kittens—it’s claws. 
His name is Santa Claus— Santa Claus ! Now, don’t [shakes 
finger at dolly] you forget it again, or he may not bring you 
any presents, not even some candy! 


WRITING TO SANTA CLAUS 
Marie Irish 
M onologue for a boy. 

Boy enters with sheet of paper and a pencil. 

Our teacher told us ’bout a boy that wrote a letter to Santa 
Claus an’ got jus’ lots of presents, he did! So I’m goin’ to 
write an’ tell ’im what I want ’im to bring me, but [shakes 
finger at audience] don’t you tell anybody, ’cause if the other 
boys an’ girls know ’bout it, they ’ll all be writin’ too, an’, 
sakes alive, Santy wouldn’t have presents nuff to go round 
—I should say not! I sha’n’t even let my ma know I : m goin ’ 
to write, ’cause she’d be sure to say, “Oh, don’t bother poor 
Santa Claus, he has so much on his mind already.” But 
say, I guess Santy Claus don’t worry very much, ’cause his 
pictures look so fat an’ jolly. 

Well, I better git started. Gee, I hate to write letters. 
[Sits at table.] I ain’t a very good speller, an’ pa says 
I won’t never git hung for bein’ a fine writer, neither,—but 1 
should worry! [Spells out the spaced words as he pretends 
to write.] D-e-e-r S-a-n-t-y C-l-a-w-s, p-l-e-z bring me for 
C-r-i-s-m-u-s (now what do I want?) some— [scratches 
head] —a pair of—(pshaw, can’t think of nothin’ when I try 
to write ’em down. Oh, yes, I know) — [writes] : A sled. (I 
hope he ’ll bring me one that can beat Tim Hall’s—he thinks 
he’s got the only racer on the track, he does.) [Writes] 


MONOLOGUES AND READINGS 


47 


Some skates. (Say, wouldn’t I like to git so’s I can skate 
crost-handed with the girls like the big boys do ? That’s 
some swell fun. An’, oh, yes) [ writes ] a watch. (Ma says 
I’m too young to have a watch, but how’m I to know how to 
git to school an’ not be late if I don’t have a watch? An’ if 
I’m late I can say my watch was slow, an’ that’s an awful 
good excuse. An’ I want—) [ ivrites] a kodak. (Say, I wish 
I could ’a’took a picture of my girl an’ me when we was 
slidin’ down hill on the same sled las’ week! I bet it would 
’a’made some swell picture all right. An’, oh, yes,) [writes] 
a book with stories ’bout Injuns an’ b-a-r-je-s. (My granma 
alius gives me books that’s made for girls that, don’t have no 
excitement in ’em. An’, oh, yes, I want) [writes] a bat an’ 
a b-a-w-1. (I tell you a feller’s got to begin young if he’s 
goin’ to be a great ball player. An’ I want) [ writes ] an air- 
gun. (I may have to go to war some o’ these days, an’ I better 
begin to git prepared. An’, oh, yes,) [writes] a flash-l-i-t-e. 
(S’pose I’d meet a burglar some night in the dark. How’d 
I know where to shoot ,’im if I didn’t have a flash along? 
An’, oh, yes,) [writes] a fountain pen. (Ben Evans says he 
has jus’ heaps o’ fun writin’ notes to the girls sence he got 
his fountain pen. An’ I sure would have missed a whole lot 
if I’d forgot to put it down.) 

Well, I guess I better not ask Santy for anything else, 
’cause my folks alius gives me a lot of presents at Christmas, 
too, an’ if Santy brings me all these it ’ll make ’bout as many 
as one boy oughter have. So I ’ll jus’ finish this up an’ have 
it done—thank goodness, ’cause I hate to write letters. 
[Writes and spells] G-o-o-d-b-i-e S-a-n-t-y. Y-o-u-r-e a-f-e-c-k- 
s-h-u-n (gee, I don’t know how to spell affectionate. Never 
mind, I can say lovin’ jus’ as well, an’ I know how to spell 
that) [writes] Y-o-u-r-e 1-u-v-i-n T-h-o-m-a-s. (There, that’s 
done, an’ it’s a pretty good job, too, even if I did do it my¬ 
self. ) 


48 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 

ELIZABETH’S CHRISTMAS PRESENTS 
Marie Irish 

Monologue for a young lady. 

Good morning, Mrs. Hubbs. I came over to see if I could 
borrow one of your knitting needles—what in the "world did 
I do but break one of mine—and just when I’m working my 
head off to finish that thingam ay jigger I’m knitting for Aunt 
Sophia. What is it I’m making? Oh, a sort of a—well, 1 
hardly know what you do call it, but it’s to use for sort of a 
—oh, really, I don’t exactly know what it is to be used for, 
but it’s awfully pretty, and like .that one that Sallie Winters 
made for—and oh, Mrs. Hubbs, isn’t Sallie’s new hat pretty? 
Oh, haven’t you seen it? It’s just swell and so becoming. 
Really, it’s a peach. Oh, yes, of course I’m making lots of 
Christmas presents—stacks of them—though I can’t possibly 
get them all done—I never do, you know. Oh, yes, I just 
love to make Christmas presents—at least I love to start 
them, but I come in sort of slow on the finish. 

What am I making for my mother? Oh, the most beauti¬ 
ful linen piece—all embroidered—just a dream, you know. 
Mother will be frightfully pleased with it. Oh, no, I haven’t 
got it finished yet—in fact, I’ve only got a little done on it, 
and, when I saw I never could get it finished by Christmas, 
I decided—since it’s going to be so beautiful —that I’d 
finish it for myself and put it in my hope box. You don’t 
know what a hope box is? Why, Mrs. Hubbs! Well, it’s a 
box that a girl keeps sort of put away where she stores linen 
and towels, and embroidered pieces and things like that, in 
the hope that she ’ll some day get a husband and they ’ll be 
ready when she needs them. AVhat? You think I’m too 
young to have a hope box? Well, I haven’t really got one 
yet; but time I get this lovely piece finished to put in one— 
you know there’s so much work on it—I ’ll probably be old 
enough to be hoping someone will take me off of pa’s hands— 
he says I get more expensive every year. He grumbled when 
I asked him for Christmas money yesterday, and when I told 
him it was more blessed to give than to receive he said : ‘ ‘ Yes. 
Miss, and a dummed lot more expensive.” 


MONOLOGUES AND READINGS 


49 


What else am I making? Well, the cutest little what-you 
may-call-it for Cousin Madge. It is going to be swell—honest 
—an’ as I told Nell Haskins—and oh, by the way, isn’t it a 
pity that Nell sprained her ankle so she can’t go to the Christ¬ 
mas party ? Such a shame, after she’s had a lovely green 
and silver gown made to wear—it’s just beautiful and made 
so swell—one of those patterns that are—well, I don’t know 
just how, but you know that sort of new style that is—well, 
it’s perfectly up-to-datish! I just didn’t know what to 
make for Brother William—he’s so particular—of course he’s 
lovely, if I do say it myself; but he is sort of peculiar—if he 
is my brother—and he doesn’t care for presents that aren’t 
practical. He always wants to know what a thing is for— 
boys are that way, you know—so I told Maud Warren that 
I was going to make him a nice—you know r Maud is real in¬ 
terested in William—she thinks he is fine, and she said she 
thought he’d like that real well and it would be useful, too. 

Oh, Mrs. Hubbs, you ought to see the lovely little thing I 
crocheted for grandmother! It’s a—you know she has so 
much trouble with cold feet and they ’re so handy—not the 
cold feet, you know, but these little things like I’m making 
her. As I told mother, it is quite a lot of work; but grand¬ 
mother is such a dear, and of course she’s getting old, so I 
thought I wanted to make her something real nice. 

And, oh, Mrs. Hubbs, I saw the dearest thing-a-bob in the 
store window the other day, and I decided to make one like it 
for Uncle Thomas. Yes, I was just going to tell you what it 
was like—and not expensive either. Of course, I always have 
to give Uncle Thomas something real nice because he is so 
good to all of us and—isn’t it too bad he is so deaf when he 
has such a lot of money ? Then, too, I’m trying to get that 
pestiferous bother made for Sister Lillie—she has been both¬ 
ering all of us most to death about one for Christmas, in hopes 
she could induce some of us to make her one—being the 
youngest, thinks she has to have just what she wants. 

Well, mercy me, Mrs. Hubbs, I must be going—with all the 
work I ’ve got on hand! You certainly know all about the 
presents I’m making—I’ve described them all so w T ell »to you 
—like as not you ’ll be making some like them. Well, good¬ 
bye, and thank you so much for this knitting needle. 


50 


MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


BILL JONES’ NEIGHBORS 

This poem on the Brotherhood of Man may profitably find a place or 
a Christmas program. 

I got all kinds o’ neighbors where l ’m livin’ by the Crick- 
Some Yankees and a Polock, and the Dutch is pretty thick. 

An’ there’s seventeen Norwegians that haul milk along tli 
road, 

An’ the’s Irish, some; an’ others I ain’t figgered whar the} 
growed. 

An ’ some of ’em is differ ’nt in their livin ’ ways to mine— 

I reckon it’s their raisin’—an’ I never got a line 

On the half a dozen lingoes hearn around a threshin ’ bee, 

Fer I wuz born a Yankee, an’ that’s good enough fer me. 

But somehow, when my wife was sick an’ I wuz mighty blue. 
Then Hilda—she’s my neighbor’s gal—come up and pulled 
us through; 

An’ when I broke my laig last fall, an’ huskin’ not begun. 
The Polock brought the Dutchmen and they cribbed ’er num¬ 
ber one. 

An’ when my neighbor’s horse got cut an’ laid up plowin’ 
time, 

An Irishman he lent Bill one, an ’ never charged a dime; 

An ’ take ’em here an ’ yander, as fur es I can see, 

The lot of ’em together is just like you an’ me. 

I’m proud that I’m a Yankee, an’ Pete’s proud that he is 
Dutch, 

But the lingo makes no differ, an’ the creeds don’t matter 
much, 

Fer we ’re goin’ to pull together—Yank an’ Swede an’ Mick 
an’ Finn— 

Till we’ve sowed a crop of Brotherhood, an’ brought the 
harvest in. 

Fer that’s the way we figger that our boys an ’ gals ’ll git 
Their chance as we’ve had our’n, an’ we ’ll help to fashion it! 
An’ the’ ain’t no man can stop us, and the’ ain’t no ’ne can say 
That the neighbors down on Farmers’ Crick ain’t pullin’ ail 
one way. 



DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 


THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT 
M. Josephine Moroney 

FOR FOUR GIRLS 

Scene: Four little girls are seated at a small table playing 
(< tea partySeveral dolls are also at the table. Chil¬ 
dren are evidently cross. Second Child takes up a doll. 

Hirst Child: That’s my doll! You mustn’t take it! 
[Angrily.] 

Second Child [putting it down hard] : Stingy, stingy! I’d 
like to break it! [Crying.] 

Third Child [ standing, and taking Second Child by the 
arm] : Come on home, you big cry-baby! 

Fourth Child [getting up with Second and Third Child 
and trying to comfort her crying friend] : Yes, and 
she ’ll be sorry, maybe— 

[Glancing back at First Child, who is sulking alone at 
the little table. The others have taken their dolls, so 
she is now left with only the? doll over which they 
quarreled. She takes it in her arms, but still sulks.] 
[All stand still as Spirit of Christmas enters. This is a 
tall girl, who is dressed in long red robe trimmed 
with holly and white f ur. She has long golden hair, 
and carries a large horn-of-plenty, in which many 
small gifts are to be seen.] 

Spirit of Christmas [looking amazed at finding the children 
quarreling] : 

The Spirit of Christmas am I, children dear, 

And I stay but a very short while, 

All your hearts I would fill with the best of good cheer, 
That will help you o’er many a mile. 

51 


52 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


And it grieves me to find you all quarreling here, 

So now let me see how you smile. 

[All the children smile, a bit unwillingly.} 

I hope you ’ll remember me all through the year 
Though I stay such a very short while. 

[Exit Spirit of Christmas; and children, smiling, go 
over to table and all four stand with their arms en¬ 
twined.] 

Children [all together] -. 

Oh, let’s not quarrel any more, 

But share our dolls and dishes; 

And fill our hearts full to the door 
With loving Christmas wishes! 

CURTAIN 


FOOLING SANTA 
M. Josephine Moroney 

FOR FOUR CHILDREN 

Scene : Bedroom. Mother enters, with small child by each 
hand. The children are either two boys in pajamas , or 
two girls in night-dresses. All go to fireplace ( cardboard, 
covered with brick design crepe paper), where children 
hang stockings after Mother’s speech. 

Mother : 

Come now, dearies! 

Hang your stockings right up here, 

Handy for old Santa dear. 

Then you ’re ready—prayers all said— 

To be tucked up snug in bed. 

For to-night is Christmas Eve, 

When good Santa gifts will leave. 

Softly, softly, in he ’ll creep, 

If you go right off to sleep. 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 


53 


[Kisses children and tucks them in; then blows out the 
candle at head of bed and leaves them, as the chil¬ 
dren call, “Good-night, Mother.”] 

First Chtld [leaning on elbow, as if listening ] : 

Come on now—the coast is clear! 

Now we ’ll catch old Santa dear! 

Second Child [both children jump out of bed, and are full of 

excitement] : 

You go take the stockings down. 

While I find pins on the bureau. 

Yours is black and mine is brown— 

Oh, we ’ll catch him now for sure—oh— 

[One takes down stockings and holds them up.] 

Won’t it be fine when they ’re full? 

To the pillow we must pin ’em, 

[Each one pins a stocking to*pillow.] 

And we ’ll surely feel the pull 
When he puts the presents in ’em. 

[Children get into bed again, the stockings dangling from 
each pillow, and scarcely have they touched the pil¬ 
low when they are asleep. Santa Claus appears by 
the fireplace, and shows surprise at lack of stock¬ 
ings.] 

Santa Claus: 

No stockings here? No brown? No black? 

It’s lucky I’ve a pair 

Of extra ones right in my pack, 

| He takes out a pair of bright red ones, and hangs them 
up and fills them.] 

Or else they’d get a scare 

And think old Santa kind o’ slack 
To leave no presents there. 

[Shoulders his pack and goes off, the children still 
asleep.] 


54 


MERRY CHRISTMAS 


ENTERTAINMENTS 


JUST MOTHER’S LITTLE GIRL 
M. Josephine Moroney 

FOR THREE SMALL GIRLS AND ONE LARGER ONE 

Little Girl [crossly] : 

They tell me morning, night, and noon, 

That Santa Clans is coming soon, 

So I must be as good as gold 
And do exactly as I’m told. 

Oh, dear! [swaying angrily] 

I wish I wasn’t just a girl, 

With face to wash and hair to curl! 

I’d like to be a snowflake white, 

And stay outdoors all day and night. 

Or else a holly berry red, 

And never have to go to bed. 

But, most of all" I’d like to be 
A Christmas fairy on the tree— 

For she does nothing else, you know, 

But blow a golden trumpet, so. 

[Shows how a horn is blown.] 

I’m sleepy, cross, and tired! [Yawning] 

Oh, dear! 

I guess I ’ll rest a minute here. 

[Lies down on a couch and is soon fast asleep. While 
she is asleep, a Snowflake,' a Holly Berry, and a 
Christmas Fairy appear.] 

Snowflake [dressed all in white] : 

If you were a snowflake 
You’d have no soft bed, 

But on the ground frozen 
You’d lay down your head. 

I think you would find it 
A bit cold and chill 
To lie in the valley 
Or on a high hill. 




DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 55 

[Snowflake steps to head of couch, making room for 

Holly Berry.] 

Holly Berry [dressed in red and green] : 

Would you like to change places with Holly? 

Well, you’d have to be cheerful and jolly. 

For the work that is mine 
Is to make a bright shine; 

I’m a sign of gay laughter and folly! 

Would you like to be my bright red berry ? 

Well, you’d have to be cheery—yes, very. 

You could never be sad, 

Or be cross or be bad, 

But you always would have to be merry. 

[Holly stands beside couch, as Christmas Fairy enters.] 

Christmas Fairy [dressed in long white robe, with wings of 
gauze and a golden trumpet at her lips] : 

The Christmas Fairy now behold, 

My wings are shining gauze; 

My horn is made of glist’ning gold, 

To summon Santa Claus. 

You think you’d like to change with me, 

My little Goldilocks, 

But when there is no Ciiristmas tree 
I ’m shut up in a box. 

You’d better stay as you were born, 

You ’re happier just so, 

So I ’ll blow soft my golden horn, 

And then away I ’ll go. 

[Blows a soft refrain on horn, and little girl wakes as all 
leave the room. The refrain may be played off stage. 
The Snowflake and Holly may leave after their 
speeches, if desired.] 

Little Girl [waking up and rubbing her eyes] : 

Oh, dear! Oh, dear! I plainly see 
My brain was in a whirl. 

Of all the things I ’d rather be— 

Just mother’s little girl! 


56 


MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


A SUGGESTION 
Alice E. Allen 

FOR THREE OF THE SMALLEST PUPILS 

First [looking as much like a big Christmas Bell as he can] 
I am just a little bell, 

But one message 1 can tell, 

Everybody knows it well— 

Merry, merry Christmas! 

Second [looking as much like a Christmas Candle as he can ] 
I am just a little light, 

But I shine with all my might, 

On the dark these words to write— 

Merry, merry Christmas! 

Third [looking as much like a Christmas Card as he can] : 

I am just a little card, 

Holly-wreathed and Christmas-starred, 

I am trying very hard 

To make Merry Christmas. 

All : 

But, if we were girls and boys, 

Just brimful of Christmas joys, 

We could make a lot more noise, 

And a Merry Christmas! 

Primary Education 


THE READIES 
M. Josephine Moroney 
for six small boys and one larger one 

Scene : Santa Claus at a bench in his workshop , surrounde 
by all sorts of toys. He is hammering a cart , and in var 
ons parts of the room are six small boys, the Readied 
helping to get the toys ready for him to take on his round: 
They are dressed all in bright red, with holly on thei 
caps, and are hung with tiny bells which ring like th 
reindeer bells as they move. Santa Claus leans his hea, 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND FLAYS 


o i 


on his hand and seems dejected, so one of the Readies 
goes over to him, and puts his hand on his shoulder. All 
the Readies look up front their tasks, and are interested 
in what is being said. 

First Ready: 

What’s the matter, Santa Claus? 

Are you sad to-night because 
It’s a stormy Christmas Eve, 

And you kind of hate to leave ? 

Santa Claus [keeping on with his hammering] : 

Oh, no! I’m wondering what to do! 

[Tap-tap.] 

The children last year were so smart, 
[Tap-tap-tap.] 

They almost caught me at my task: 

[Tap-tap.] 

And if they did, ’t would break my heart. 

[Tap-tap-tap.] 

What can I do to make quite sure 

[Tap-tap.] 

They ’re fast asleep before I start! 

[ Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap. ] 

Second Ready [who must have been doing something that will 
bring him near the bench for his speech] : 

We might start and go ahead 

And wind some poppies ’round each bed; 

In their flowers, way down deep, 

Lies a charmed, restful sleep. 

Third Ready [with toy in his hand] : 

That would n’t do any good at all. 

Children are wise and can keep awake 
Spite of all poppies on stems so tall: 

Plan something better for Santa’s sake! 

Fourth Ready: 

If we scattered snow around, 

• Then they’d hardly hear a sound 
When his great big roomy sleigh 
Stopped upon its merry way. 


58 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


Fifth Ready: 

Aw! Some kids would love it so, 

They’d stay up to see the snow. 

[Santa Claus has listened to each plan with interest, but 
is still at work, as he evidently doesn’t think any 
plan good enough .] 

Sixth Ready [eagerly] : 

Listen to my plan. It’s fine and dandy! 

I Ve got a friend by the name of Sandy; 

Children all know him and love him dearly, 

But they are wise and they know full clearly 
Sleep for their eyes he is always bringing. 

Hark now! I think I can hear him singing. 

A sack full of sleep he wears behind him— 

I 11 run and see if I can’t find him. 

[As he says “Sleep for—*’ the tune of “The Sandman” 
is heard outside—very soft at first, and gradually 
growing louder as Sandy comes nearer.] 

[Exit Sixth Ready.] 

[Sixth Ready enters with the Sandman, dressed in the 
familiar gray costume, with the sack of sand over 
his shoulder. He is still humming, but stops at end 
of first stanza, as the Readies and Santa Claus all 
pay attention to him.] 

Readies [all together to Santa Claus] : 

Oh, the Sandman! The Sandman ! 

Dear Santa Claus, worry no more! 

Sandman [standing near Santa Claus, and patting his back, 
sings to the well-known music of (( The Sandman ”] : 
Sleep I am bringing 
Lullabies singing, 

To all the children so bonny and dear; 

For when stars light the skies, 

Then they all close their eyes, 

As soon as they see the gray Sandman. 

[Moves away from Santa Claus, and goes slowly across 
the stage, followed by the Readies. He is still sing¬ 
ing, to the tune of the chorus.] 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 


59 


Come with me, my Readies! 

Help me scatter sand! 

For Santa Claus is waiting— 

So come and lend a hand! 

He ’ll fill each little stocking, 

And really ’t would be shocking, 

If he should find the children 
Awake on Christmas Eve. 

[As he finishes song he disappears, with Readies after 
him, leaving Santa Claus alone on stage. Santa 
picks up his pack, puts on his big red cap, and starts 
off in same direction as the Sandman.] 

Santa Claus: 

Now they’ve gone to clear the track, 

Guess I ’ll start out with my pack! 


A SURPRISE FOR SANTA 
M. Josephine Moroney 

FOR TWO GIRLS AND A BOY 

Scene: Playroom, with many toys. In one corner are two 
small beds and bureaus for dolls. There is a fireplace at 
one end of room, and a chest of drawers at other side. 
Other furnishings as desired. On floor are three children: 
Joe, aged nine, playing with erector, or similar toy. A 
chimney should be almost made, so that the action may 
not be delayed. There is also the body of a small sleigh 
lying near, for later use. 

Harriet, aged seven, blue bow on hair, undressing doll. 
Helen, aged five, with pink bow on hair, undressing doll, 
s, (Ages may be varied', keeping the proportion.) 

Joe [holding up chimney] : See the chimney I ’ve just made 
for Santa Claus. Is n’t it a dandy one ? 

Harriet: Yes, it’s a fine one. And there’s no fire under¬ 
neath to burn him, either. 


60 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


Helen: Well, mother never has a fire in ours on Christma 
Eve. [Mother comes in.] Do you, Mother? 

Mother : Do I what, dear ? 

Helen : Have a fire in the fireplace Christmas Eve ? 

Mother : Of course not. I think too much of Santa for that 
Are you almost ready for the carols now ? It would never 
do to let Santa find you here. 

Joe: Oh, Mother, can’t I make just one more thing? 1 Vi 
got a sleigh almost done for Santa Claus. 

Harriet: And we must put our dolls to bed. Let Joe finis!) 
the sleigh while we get our dollies ready. Do, please, 
Mother. 

Mother: Well, I will give you just time for that. I ’ll be 
back in fifteen minutes, and then' you must be ready. 
Don’t forget. 

Helen [running to Mother, and putting lner arms around 
Mother’s neck and kissing her] : Oh, you ’re such a nice 
mother. [Mother leaves. ] 

Harriet : Now my Arabella is all ready for bed. Is Dorothy 
undressed yet ? 

Helen : Just a minute. There. Is n’t she too sweet in her 
new nightie with pink ribbons? [Holds up doll in pink- 
ribboned nightie.] 

Harriet [holding up a blue-ribboned doll] : I like blue better. 

Joe [who has been making sleigh] : Look here. Won’t Santa 
be glad to ride in my sleigh ? 

Helen : Oh, where are the runners ? 

Harriet : And there is n’t any seat. 

JOE: oil, that’s just like girls. Think a feller can make a 
sleigh in a minute? It isn’t finished, sillies. Run along 
and put your foolish dolls to bed. 

[Continues work on sleigh, ignoring girls. Girls get 
up from floor and carry dolls to small beds in the 
corner, cuddling them as they go.] 

Harriet and Helen: They ’re not foolish. [Kiss dolls and 
lay them in beds, covering them.] 

Mother [opening door] : All ready? A 

Joe : I m not quite done, but I guess Santa can make it do. 
But we ’re going to hang our stockings here, aren’t we? 



DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 


61 


I other: Oh, yes, right here, where there s no fire. 

[Goes to chest and takes out three stockings—a black 
one and two white ones. Hands them to children.] 
Now hang them up in a row. 

[Children hang stockings on mantel.] 
Iarriet: Oh, we mustn't forget Arabella's stocking, and 
Dorothy’s. 

[Both girls go to small bureaus and bring back dolls' 
stockings, a blue one and a pink one, and hang them.] 
Iother: How nice they look, hanging there. 

'OE: They'll look nicer to-morrow morning, after Santa 
Claus lias been here. 

[All start to leave room, and Helen glances back.] 
Ielen : Oh, Mother, why don’t we hang a stocking for Santa 
Claus? I don’t believe he ever had one. 
oe : Yes, let’s. * 

Iarriet: Can’t we, Mother? 

II other: Why, yes, that’s very generous of you. But we 

must be quick. And where can we find one big enough 
for Santa ? 

oe [going to bureau and bringing back a pair of black stock¬ 
ings] : Let's use a pair of mine. 

Iarriet: And fill them with nuts and candy. 

Ielen: And oranges. Oh, Mother, do let us. 

Totuer : All right. Come, Joe, we ’ll see what we can find 
for Santa’s stockings. But we must be quick or he will 
catch us. [Mother and Joe go out.] 

[Harriet and Helen pin the stockings together and hang 
them beside the others.] 

Ielen : How will Santa know they ’re for him? 

Iarriet : 1 ’ll write his name. 

[Goes to small desk or table and prints card. (The 
card should be all ready, printed in straggly letters. ) 
She shows card to Helen.] 

Ielen [reading card aloud] : “For Santa Claus.” Don’t 
you think we ought to say, “With love”? 

Iarriet [taking card to desk again and printing] : I ’ll put 
that on. There That’s all right. [Reads aloud.] “For 


62 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


Santa.Claus. With love.” Don’t tell we ’ve got it. It 'll 
be a surprise. [Puts finger on lip, as noise is heard out 
side.] 

Mother [pushing door open] : Here we are. 

Joe: Look at these. [Both have basket, filled with candy . 
nuts, fruit.] 

[Children fill Santa’s stockings, talking as they fill , while 
the mother stands aside, smiling.] 

Harriet : Let’s put an orange in the toes. He always does 
in ours. 

Joe : And lots of nuts and candy next, 

Helen : And apples on top. 

Joe : No, candy canes on top, so they 'll stick up. There. 
Aren’t they dandies? But he won’t know they ’re for 
him. 

Helen [poking Harriet and whispering] : Get it now. 
Harriet [bringing sign from desk] : Oh, I’ve got a card all 
ready. Here it is. I ’ll pin it on where Santa can’t 
miss it. [Pins it on pair of stockings.] 

Card reads, in large, uneven letters — 

“FOR SANTY CLAWS WITH LUV.” 

Joe: That’s fine. I guess he ’ll be pleased enough. 

^ Mother [smiling at card] : Indeed, he -will. Come now, chil¬ 
dren. Santa mustn’t find us here. That would spoil it 
all. Off now; it’s late, and we have to sing our Christmas 
carols before bed. 

[Mother turns gas low, leaving scene in semi-darkness, 
while Mother and children are heard outside, sing¬ 
ing two carols. Any carols may be used, such as: 
“Once a Little Baby Lay”; “Oh, Hush Thee, My 
Baby, a Story I ’ll Tell.”] 

[As they finish the door is pushed softly open, and Santa 
Claus peeks in to see if the coast is clear. Just 
before he appears, bells may be rung on outside.] 
Santa Claus [setting his pack on the floor] ; Glad they ’re 
all tucked into bed, for I’ve a lot of places to visit to-night 
and I must lose no time. 

[Reaches into pack and takes out three oranges.] 
Oranges first, in the toe. 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 


63 


[As he puts them in, he catches sight of the pair of stock¬ 
ings for him. He steps hack, amazed, then puts on 
his glasses and reads the card aloud.] 

“For Santa Claus. With love.” Bless their dear hearts. 
That’s the first time any one ever filled a stocking for me. 

[Wipes away a tear.] 

Well, I guess their eyes will stick out in the morning 
when they see what I’ve left them. I ’ll say “Thank 
you” so that they will remember this Christmas. 

[Reaches into pack and brings out several toys.] 

CURTAIN 


WHAT MEANS CHRISTMAS? 

M. Josephine Moroney 

A DIALOGUE FOR TWO CHILDREN, ONE TAKING THE PART OF THE 
CHILD, THE OTHER OF THE STAR 

Child : 

Bright little star, shining afar, 

Tell me pray, 

What means Christmas Day? 

Star : 

Christmas, my child, is a song from above; 

The sweet, happy song of God’s great love. 

’T is the music of heaven on earth below, 

’T is the Spirit of Christ in the world aglow; 

For in every heart is the pulse and thrill 
Of loving and giving, of peace and good will. 

Child : 

O bright little star, shining afar, 

Tell me, pray, 

How long will Christmas stay ? 

As long, my child, as long as you live, 

If always, like the Christ, you love and give. 


Star : 


64 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 

THE OLD WOMAN IN THE SHOE* 

Alberta Walker 

FOR ANY NUMBER OF CHILDREN 
CHARACTERS 

Old Woman in the Shoe (may be taken by the teacher). 

Her Children (dressed in their nightgowns). 

Miss Muffet. 

Humpty Dumpty (large piece of cardboard, with a yellow cambric back 
painted to look like a broken egg forms his costume). 

Jack Horner. 

Bo-Peep. 

Pm (pig’s head made of buckram). 

Mistress Mary. 

Patty-Cake. 

.Tack and Jill. 

Bobby on a Hobby Stick. 

Queen of Hearts. 

King, Queen, and Maid. 

Boy Blue. 

King Cole and his Fiddlers Three. 

Time —Christmas Eve. 

Scene— In front of the Old Woman ’.s Shoe. * 

STAGE SETTING 

Any kind of background will serve. The shoe is made of a framework 
about six feet high, with an opening about four feet high, left for 
the door. If the woodwork does not make a perfect outline it may be 
supplemented with cardboard tacked on to form the curves at the heel, 
etc. Then the whole is covered with black cambric, nine yards being 
required for this size, marked off with chalk to show buttons and seams. 
A box placed at the door for a doorstep forms the heel. This structure 
is supported by two braces at the back. The shoe is now ready for use. 
It is quite simple to make and causes wonderful happiness. 


* The lines of the play as here published are merely suggestive. So long 
as the spirit of giving is entered into by the various Mother Goose char 
acters, the play will succeed. If the children can think of other things 
to say which will be consistent with the parts they are to interpret, so 
much the better. 

As the children enter to tell of the doings of the Mother Goose children 
on this unusual Christmas Eve, the piano may help by playing the songs 
which most boys and girls know so well. 



DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 


65 


Old Woman: Oh. dear, oh dear! Christmas has come, and 
I have no presents for my children. Everyone else is 
making ready for that glad day and I have nothing to 
give. I have so many children I don’t know what to do. 
Oh! oh! oh! oh! 

.[Children run in crying and picking at her dress.] 

First Child *. Mother, Mother, we’ve had our broth without 
any bread. 

All the Children [crying] : Oh! oh! oh! 

Old Woman : Well, come here and be spanked now. [They 
get in line for a spanking, which she administers.] Now 
run along to becl. [Children lie down in little heaps 
inside the shoe, hut can he plainly seen hy the audience. 
Everything is still for a few moments. Bells can he heard 
tinkling in the distance.) 

Miss Muffet enters and looks around. 

Miss Muffet: Well, well, this is Christmas Eve. Can you 
guess who I am? I am Little Miss Muffet. I had a ter¬ 
rible fright just now. I was sitting on my tuffet when 
a great spider came and sat down right beside me. My, 
I was scared! I ran all the way here. Where am I any¬ 
way? Oh, yes, I know. [Looking around.] This is the 
poor Old Woman’s house. And see! there are all her little 
children asleep. I know what I will do. Here are my 
nice curds and whey which I have not eaten. I believe 
the children would like them for breakfast. I will put 
them here on the funny doorstep. [Puts down her howl.] 
Merry Christmas, Old Woman, and all your little chil¬ 
dren, too. [Runs off.] 

Humpty Dumpty rolls in and looks around in a surprised way. 

Humpty Dumpty : Whew! It’s a long way to the Old 
Woman’s from my page in the Mother Goose book, but I 
was bound to come. My, I hope I am not broken. You 
see, I have some nice fresh eggs for all the little children’s 
Christmas breakfast. I mustn’t let them fall. Oh me! 
oh my! he, he! Here they are. [Takes eggs from under 
his face, and puts them on the doorstep.] Merry Christ¬ 
mas to you all! [Goes out.] 


6G 


MERRT CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


Jack Horner enters with a broad smile. 

Jack Horner: I am a good boy. I just found this plum. 
See my nice Christmas pie ? [ Looking at the shoe.] What 
a funny house to live in! Nothing but an old shoe. Those 
children must be very poor. Perhaps they would like a 
pie for their Christmas, too. I shall give them mine. 
[Puts the pie on the step.] I must go now. Merry 
Christmas to all the little children! Merry Christmas! 
[Runs off.] 

Bo-Beep comes in singing that she has found her sheep. 

Bo-Beep: Do you know, I just found my sheep. I looked 
and looked for a long time but could not find them. At 
last I did and here is a baby one. I have heard that the 
poor little children in the shoe have no toys for Christmas, 
so I am going to give them this to play with. I wonder 
where they are. [Looks everywhere and at last spies the 
shoe.] Oh, isn’t this a cunning house to live in? But 
they do not have very much; I can see that. Well, here 
is my little sheep. [Puts it in a prominent place.] I 
hope these children will stay with their mother and not 
get lost. Then they will have a good Christmas. [Skips 
off, singing.] 

Pig trots on, grunting. 

Pig : Ugh! ugh ! ugh ! ugh ! Where am I ? I am on the way 
home from market, for you must know I am the little 
pig that went to market. I have bought sugar and spice, 
and everything nice for the little children who live in the 
shoe. Ugh! ugh! ugh! Where is their shoe? Oh yes,- 
here it is. I will put my goodies for them to see when 
they get up. Merry Christmas, Old Woman in the Shoe, 
and all your little children, too. Ugh ! ugh! [Trots off.] 
Mistress Mary enters in a stately way. 

Mistress Mary : I’m Mistress Mary, quite contrary. All the 
morning I ha.ve been picking my flowers. I shall not be 
contrary this time, but will give all of these sweet flowers 
to the Old Woman in the Shoe because she has so many 
children she does n’t know what to do. She will like these, 
I know. And here are some cockle shells for the children 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 


67 


to play with. [Puts basket down.] The best of happy 
days to you all. Good-night. [Walks off.] 

Patty-Cake enters, clapping his hands. 

Patty-Cake: I am the Patty-Cake, Patty-Cake, baker’s man. 
I have just made the finest cake you ever saw. I rolled 
it, and rolled it, and marked it with “T.” It is.for the 
poor children’s Christmas dinner. Sh! here they are all 
asleep. Bless their little hearts! they shall have" a pleas¬ 
ant Christmas Day, after all. [Puts down cake and 
“Patty-cakes” off.] 

Jack enters with Jill, carrying a backet of water. 

Jack : Ouch! my head hurts. 

Jill: I am Jill and this is my brother Jack. We went to 
the spring to get a pail of water, and we both fell down. 
Don’t cry, Jack! Let us look for the Old Woman’s house, 
so the children can have some fresh water for Christmas. 
The poor old mother has to go so far to get it that we 
thought we could save her one trip. 

Jack: Here’s the funny old shoe. Put the bucket down so 
she can find it here when she gets up on Christmas 
morning. 

J ill : All right. Now don’t make a noise. Merry Christmas, 
cunning children! [They go out.] 

Enter Boy riding a hobby stick. 

Boy : I’ve been to market; now wait till I show you what I 
bought. A big, fat pig! Little children always like pigs 
to play with. I ’ll leave this here for the children as a 
Christmas surprise. [Rides all around the shoe and then 
away.] 

Queen of Hearts comes in with a satisfied smile. 

Queen of Hearts : I am the Queen of Hearts you have read 
of so often. This Christmas I went into the royal kitchen 
and with my own hands made some tarts. Do you smell 
them? My! they are delicious. I am out late, looking 
for the shoe where that poor family of starving children 
live. Poor little boys and girls. Never mind, they shall 
have something good this Christmas. 1 will put these 


68 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


tarts at the end of the step so they will find them when 
they get up. [Looks in the doorway of the shoe.] I hope 
you will have just a lovely Christmas, Old Woman. [Goes 
out quietly.] 

King and Queen and Maid dance in, singing “Sing a Song 
of Sixpence” and carrying an immense pie. 

The Three : Here is the place for this pie. 

King : Won’t the Old Woman and her children have fun when 
they open this pie? 

Queen: Yes, they will be astonished to see the four-and- 
twenty blackbirds hop out. 

Maid: Let us put it right here, and they will see it first 
thing. 

King and Queen: So let it be. [They arrange themselves 
near the step and put down the pie with much joy. Again 
they sing and walk off.] 

Boy Blue enters, yawning and stretching. 

Boy Blue : I know you can guess who I am by my blue suit. 
My! I am still sleepy, but it is Christmas Eve and I must 
wake up. Listen to this horn. [Blows.] Now I know 
everybody likes a horn for Christmas. In fact, Christmas 
is n’t Christmas at all without a horn. Humpty Dumpty 
told me that there were some poor children around this 
Mother Goose book who had no horn for Christmas, so‘I 
am going to give them mine. Well, well, here is their 
house. And here is my good horn. I think I will take a 
last blow. [Blows twice.] Merry Christmas to all the 
world. [Blows twice, then puts down horn and runs 
away.] 

A loud laughing is heard outside and Old King Cole enters, 
cotivulsed with laughter. 

Old King Cole : Ha ! ha! ha! Who lives here in this queer 
place? By my soul, it is the Old Woman in the Shoe. 
Whoever heard of a Christmas Eve without music? 
[Thinks a moment and hursts into fresh laughter.] Of 
course we must have music on Christmas. [Claps his 
hands.] First fiddler, come! [Claps again.] Second 
fiddler, come! [Claps a third time.] Third fiddler, come! 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 


69 


[Fiddlers come on as called.] Now give us a lively tune. 
[The fiddlers play and Old King Cole indulges in another 
good laugh.] 

Old King Cole : Now that will do. Let us call all the Mother 
Goose children and ask them to sing for the poor boys and 
girls. [Claps his hands and calls.] Mother Goose chil¬ 
dren, come, come! 

[The children who have taken the various parts all come 
in, asking, “What is it?”] 

Old King Cole : Come now, sing some of your Christmas 
carols for the children. 

[They sing one or two of the jolly songs that they have 
learned for Christmas.] 

Old Woman [waking and coming out of the shoe] : Well, 
well, what is this? Wake up, children! wake up, and see 
what has happened. [Children sit up, rubbing their eyes 
and exclaiming at their gifts.] See these wonderful pres¬ 
ents for you. [Children pick up some of the things say¬ 
ing, “Oh, see the pie,” or “What a darling pig,” etc.] 
Now make a curtsy and say, “Thank you for a lovely 
Christmas.’ ’ 

Children [bowing] : Thank you, Mother Goose Children, for 
a lovely Christmas. 

Mother Goose Children : We wish you all a Merry Christ¬ 
mas! 

Normal Instructor and Primary Plans 
curtain 

SANTA’S BOOK 
M. Josephine Moroney 
FOR FOUR BOYS AND SIX GIRLS 

Scene: The workshop of Santa Claus. At one side is a 
high desk, with a large ledger on it, open. There are also 
a bench, an armchair, and a table. The shop is in great 
disorder, with paint brushes, cans of paint, tools, parts of 
toys, etc., scattered around. At left side of shop [rear] 
is a large mirror. 


70 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


Mrs. Santa Claus, dressed in house dress, with sweeping cap 
and big apron, is discovered sweeping up shavings from 
hoor. She is fat and good-natured, with gray hair and a 
pleasant smile. 

Santa Claus, dressed in regulation costume, is standing at 
high desk, looking in big ledger. 

[All entrances are to be made at right, and exits left.] 

Mrs. Santa Claus: Well, there’s at least one person 
that’s glad “Christmas comes hut once a year!” I 'm 
tired! 

Santa Claus [turning his head] : But think of all the hap¬ 
piness you help to make! 

Mrs. Santa Claus: Oh, yes, I ’m really glad to help. But, 
just the same, I’m tired when it’s over. But, bless their 
dear hearts! I wouldn’t have one single child left out. 
I love them all just as you do. You must be tired, and all 
that long trip to make to-night. Why don’t you sit down 
to read your list? Here, take this easy-chair, and rest a 
bit before you start out. 

[STie places armchair at right side of room, slightly back 
from center, and a small table beside it. Then she 
goes over to desk and takes ledger and puts it on 
table.] 

Santa Claus [putting pack on floor beside armchair, sinks 
into chair with a sigh and begins to read list again] : I 
am tired! But I must read over my list once more, to be 
sure I have n’t forgotten any little boy or girl. The dear 
children! 

[He runs his finger down the list, turning a page as he 
reaches the end, and stopping once in a while to talk 
aloud , as indicated beloiv. After each speech appears 
the girl or boy of whom he speaks, and time must be 
allowed for them to appear before he speaks again.] 

I. Here’s little 0 ’Haru San. They call her the “trea¬ 
sure flower,” and I don’t wonder, for she’s the sweetest 
flower in all Japan. She’s one of my dearest children, 
for she’s always so generous to everyone. She’s just a 
wee bit vain, but you’d hardly blame her, for her mirror 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 


71 


tells her how lovely she is. I 'll take her a gay flower for 
her hair. She ’ll love that. 

Enter a small Japanese girl, dressed in native costume, in 
gay coloring. She crosses stage rather slowly, with a 
gay artificial flower in her hand. She admires it, and 
goes to mirror, where she poses, trying the flower in 
her hair different ways. Leaves it in hair, curtsies to 
her image, and goes out. 

II. [half aloud ] : Lilly, Fred, Jimmy, Margaretta, Har¬ 
riet, Gretel,— 

III. Oh, that Gretel is a demure little maiden. She’s a 
darling in her white cap and wooden shoes! She ’ll be de¬ 
lighted with the silver skates I have for her. I have a pair 
for her brother Hans, too, for they ’re always together. 
Enter boy and girl in Dutch costume, with skates over 

their arms. As they cross stage, they hold up skates, 
showing them to each other. [Exit left.] 

IV. [turning several pages] : Now here’s my “Indian 
maiden with raven hair. ’ ’ She knows all the lore of the 
woods and camp. I’m glad the Camp-fire Girls are bor¬ 
rowing some of her sturdy qualities. I can just see her 
dark eyes gleam when she finds the beaded moccasins I 
have for her. 

Enter tall girl in Indian costume, with long strings of 
beads and her hair in two braids. She wears old, 
worn moccasins, and carries a new pair in her hand. 
Part way across the room she sits down on bench and 
puts on new pair, admiring them as she goes out. 
[Santa Claus runs his finger down the page silently, and 
then turns it.] 

V. Way up in the Alps the edelweiss grows, and the 
Swiss children love it; so I’ve put a spray in the green 
hunter’s hat I’ve chosen for Karl. 

Enter small boy in dark Norfolk suit, with a green hat, 
in the side of ivhich is a flower as nearly like the 
edelweiss as possible. lie carries an alpenstock and 
has a coil of rope over his shoulder, as if ready for 
climbing. He strides across stage and goes out. 


72 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


[Santa Claus runs over two pages hastily, stopping now 
and then, as if in thought.] 

YI. Here’s another little girl that’s nearly as dark as 
Winona. How her black curls will bob when she tosses 
her little head in delight at the string of coral that will 
please her warm Italian heart. Why, she ’ll dance for 
joy, I know! 

Enter Laurella, in Italian dress, with gay apron and 
kerchief that does not conceal her black curls. She 
goes straight to the mirror and puts on the string of 
coral, prinking to get the effect, and tosses her curls. 
She dances a few steps, with the coral held in various 
positions, then dances out. 

Mrs. Santa Claus [leaning on broom] : Isn’t it time for you 
to be starting? 

[She comes over to Santa and puts her hand on his shoul¬ 
der. He looks up, still keeping the place in the 
ledger with his finger.] 

Santa Claus : Yes, just a few pages more and then I ’ll be 
off. Oh, I love to make children happy and hear them 
laugh! They make me laugh, too, with their queer names. 
Look at these! Did you ever read anything so funny ? I 
don’t even try to pronounce them. 

[They both lean over page as Santa Claus points to 
this name and that. She smiles at each one, but 
Santa laughs aloud. At one name he leans back and 
holds his sides, as he roars.] 

Oh, some of them are so queer! But they Ye dears! 

VTI. Oh, here’s a name that I can pronounce, little 
Stuart. He y s a Scotch boy and as sturdy as can be, this 
“wee Macgregor.” He’s not big enough to manage bag¬ 
pipes, but I’m sure he can dance his “Highland fling” 
just as well to the harmonica. So I’m taking him a good 
one. 

Enter Scotch boy, in Highland costume. He is playing 
some Scotch air on harmonica as he enters. When he 
reaches the left center, music is played behind the 
scenes and, as foon as he hears it, he stops his own 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 


73 


playing and faces the audience. He dances the 
“Highland fling,” and dances ofl at last strain of 
music . 

Mrs. Santa Claus [who has been clearing up, but has stopped 
to see the various children] : Come, come, you really 
will be late! 

Santa Claus: Yes, my dear, I’m coming now. Only two 
more pages [running finger down the pages]. 

VIII. Oh, I remember this family well! Come here, my 
dear, and see what a jolly crowd it is. 

[Mrs. Santa Claus comes and sits on the arm of the 
chair, as he reads.] 

Billy, that’s the baby; Jane and John and Jimmy! 
They ’re full of fun in that family and they call them 
“the three jays”; Harold, red-cheeked youngster; Kate, 
and Betty. They have such good times all together. Last 
Christmas I got there early and heard them all singing 
carols in the next room. I can hear them now, singing 
“Once a Little Baby Lay.” 

[Children behind scenes sing the carol.] 
And it seemed as if I’d have to open the door and sur¬ 
prise them, when I heard them singing, “Santa Claus 
Will Come To-night.” 

[Children behind scenes sing one stanza of above song.] 
But of all the children I think Betty is my favorite. My 
dear little American girl! I wish you could see her in 
her white “middy” with the big red bow on her hair. 
I love her for her independence and straightforwardness. 
I know she wants a doll to mother, and she ’ll have one, 
too. 

[Enter girl in “middy” and blue serge skirt. She wears 
a big red bow on her hair. In her arms is a big doll 
in baby-clothes, and she rocks it to and fro as she 
walks across stage very slowly, singing, “Rock-a-bye, 
Baby.”] ? 

There! I’m most at the end now. [Sighs and leans back 
in chair.] [Bells are heard from outside.] 

Oh, that must be my reindeer! I must go now, right off! 


74 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


Mrs. Santa Claus [looking out door] : Yes, your sleigh is 
there, all ready. Be sure to wrap the robe around your 
feet! Come! 

Santa Claus [shouldering pack, with Mrs. Santa Claus* 
help] : Well, I’m off. Good-bye, my dear! 

Mrs. Santa Claus [ opening door to look out] : It ’s cold to¬ 
night! [pulling cap down over his ears.] Good-bye! Now 
don’t forget any one! 

Santa Claus [starting toward the door] : I guess not! 
They ’re all written here [pointing to heart] and so I 
can’t forget. The dear children! God bless them! 

[Opens cloor arid a flurry of snore is blown in.] 

CURTAIN 


THE DOLLS’ CHRISTMAS TREE 
M. Josephine Moroney 

FOR FOUR GIRLS AND ONE BOY 

Scene: A room at Daisy’s house. In one corner, a screen; in 
another, a plant like a small tree. On the floor sit four 
little girls with dolls, Teddy bear, elephant, and any other 
playthings. Over a ; chair are some long skirts, and hats 
are on the table. 

Frances : Oh, I’m tired of playing dolls! Let’s do some¬ 
thing else! 

Daisy [a delicate child, going to the window] : I wish I was 
a boy and could go out in the rain and splash around. 1 
hate rain! I always have to stay in and James can go 
out all he wants to. I hate rain! 

Elizabeth [with very red cheeks] : My mother lets me go 
out in the pouring rain. I’ve got a raincoat and a rub¬ 
ber hat just like a boy’s, and I can’t get wet. Come on 
out now and play. [Gets up.] 

Frances : Oh, no! Daisy can’t go out. Let’s think of some¬ 
thing to play in here. 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 


75 


Catherine [a quiet child] : Oh, I know! Let’s have a Christ 
mas tree for the dolls. It’s most Christmas, and we 
ought to let the dolls have some fun. We can use the 
plant for a tree, and have a Santa Claus and everything. 
Elizabeth : Who ’ll be Santa Claus ? 

Daisy: Maybe James would. Go ask him. I don’t dare go 
to the open window. 

Elizabeth [opening window, and calling loudly ] : Say, 
James, come on in and play Christmas with us. You can 
be Santa Claus in that suit that you had for the Sunday- 
school play last year. Come on! 

James [heard from outside] : Yep! I got to come in any¬ 
way, ’cause I fell in a puddle and I’m soaked. You get 
things ready and I ’ll be there in time to be Santa Claus. 

[Children are very busy getting things ready. They put 
the screen around the table that holds the plant, and 
their voices are heard from behind it as they fix the 
tree.] • 

Daisy: This plant is just right for a tree. 1 ’ll see if I can 
find any silver for trimming. [Goes out.] 

Elizabeth : Here’s something for my doll! 

Frances : Is n’t this fun ? 

Daisy [with open box of silver tinsel] : I found some lovely 
decorations. 

Catherine : Won’t this be fine for the elephant? 

Daisy : Call him by his name—Ellie. Mother sent this for 
Teddy. [All laugh.] 

James [in a Santa Claus costume, entering with much noise] : 
Here I am, all read— 

[Elizabeth takes him by the arm and drags him behind 
screen, whispering, “Don’t let them see you.” As 
he appears behind screen, all are heard giggling and 
whispering.] 

Frances [as four girls come out] : Now we ’ll fix the dolls 
in their chairs, ready for the tree. 

[All fix dolls in small chairs, and set the Teddy bear and 
elephant beside them.] 


76 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


Daisy: We ought to put on the dresses and be like real 
mothers. 

Catherine : Come on. Let’s! 

[They take clothes behind screen and after much giggling 
come out dressed like “real mothers.”] 

Frances: We’d better sit right near the children. 

[All sit on floor, behind the dolls.] 
Elizabeth : Shall I take the screen away ? 

Catherine: We ought to sing first. They always do at 
Christmas trees. We like that one, “Once a Little Baby 
Lay.” 

[Girls sing: “Once a Little Baby Lay,” etc.] 

Elizabeth [ jumpinq up and removing screen 1 : There. 
Isn’t that lovely? 

[Tree is seen, gaily decorated, with Santa Claus near.] 

Santa Claus [with a grown-up a^r] : Here’s a pair of pink 
shoes for Dorothea. 

[Hands them to Daisy, who puts them in Dorothea’s lap.] 

And for Sarah Jane a bonnet. [Frances’ doll.] 

Now, Teddy, here’s something that you love—a jar of 
honey. 

Daisy [pushing Teddy bear forward] : Mother thought of 
that. 

Santa Claus : And I’ve got a nice pair of warm socks for 
you,— [has forgotten the name, so Catherine prompts, 
in a whisper, “Barbara.”] —Barbara. [Catherine’s doll.] 
I’m sorry I’ve got only one peanut for you, Ellie, but if 
you are very, very good, there will be more for you at 
the real tree next week. [Daisy pushes the gray ele¬ 
phant forward.] Oh, I’ve found the loveliest little neck¬ 
lace for Betty. [Elizabeth’s doll.] Now I hope you ’ll 
all be good children all through the year, and next year 
I ’ll come again and bring you more presents. [Bows.] 
Catherine [when Santa Claus has disappeared behind tree] : 

Not one of them said “Thank you!” 

Frances : Oh, never mind! We had a good time. 

Elizabeth : And you can see that they did, too! 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 


77 


Daisy: Mother said if we ’d come downstairs after the tree 
and bring the children, she’d have a surprise for us, too. 
Come on. [All take dolls.] Come on, Santa Claus. 
Frances, Catherine, Elizabeth: Goody, goody! Rainy 
days aren’t so bad! 

[All run out.] 

CURTAIN 


THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS 
M. Josephine Moroney 

FOR TEN SMALL GIRLS AND ONE LARGER ONE 

Scene: Large room furnished as sitting room. Over the 
mantel is a large picture of the Madonna and Child. One 
side or corner of the room is curtained off, and behind the 
curtann or screen is a representation of the Christ-Child 
in the manger against a background of pine boughs. 
There shoidd be a fireplace, if possible, and in front of 
this ten small chairs, kindergarten size, with one larger 
one. As the curtain rises, the low chairs are occupied by 
the small children, but the larger one is vacant, and the 
teacher or story-teller is just leaving. She is dressed in 
street costume and stands at the door, speaking to the 
children. 

Teacher: Good-bye, children! Don’t forget my story! Be 
sure you have the real Christmas spirit in your hearts. 
Merry Christmas to you all! 

Children: Merry Christmas! 

[Teacher closes door, and children talk among them¬ 
selves.] 

Child : That was the loveliest story we’ve ever had, was n’t 
it? 

Child : Why, I could almost see that Spirit of Christmas in 
her trailing red robe, trimmed with ermine, like a queen! 

Child : And her crown of gold! Oh, she must be lovely! 


78 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


Child: What do you suppose teacher meant when she said 
the real Christmas spirit? We know what Christmas is! 

Child: Of course we do! Everybody knows that Christmas 
is for a good time, and the tree, and gifts, and— 

Child: Hanging up our stockings, and playing games, and 
going after the greens, and— 

Child: Do you suppose the Spirit of Christmas ever does 
come, so any one can see her, in a crown of gold ? 

Enter, very quietly, through curtains, the Spirit op Christ¬ 
mas, dressed in a trailing robe of red, trimmed with 
white swansdown. She wears a croivn of gold, and carries 
a wand of tinsel. The children do not see her until she 
speaks, standing before the curtain. 

Spirit op Christmas: Yes, she truly does appear to little 
children, for them she loves with all her heart; and she 
wants them all to know what the Spirit of Christmas really 
means. 

Children : Oh—oh—oh—oh-h-h-! 

Spirit op Christmas [ advancing among children] : All 
through the Christmas season I am hovering near the 
earth, and I love to find little groups of children plan¬ 
ning their gifts. Often I listen to what they say, and 1 
try to find out if they really know what Christmas means. 
I ’ve heard them talk of all sorts of things, but they don’t 
seem to remember what the very word “Christmas” 
means. Now, I wonder if you do. Tell me what the real 
heart of Christmas is. 

[Seats herself in the vacant chair, and children crowd 
around her.] 

Child: Isn’t Santa Claus the real spirit of Christmas? 

Child: Or holly and mistletoe? 

Child : I think the candles on the tree and in the windows 
are the real heart. 

Child: It wouldn’t be Christmas without snow on the 
ground. 

Child : Or the carols Christmas Eve ! 

Child : Oh, I know! The tree ! That’s what 1 think is the 
best part of Christmas! 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 


79 


Spirit of Christmas [drawing near the curtain or screen] : 
No, not one has told the real heart of Christmas, but I 
am going to show you. Not carols, or trees, or snow, 
but,— 

[Draws curtain aside, disclosing manger, with Christ- 
Child.] 

Children : 

Oh-h-h!— 

We ought to have thought of the Christ-Child!— 

Isn’t it lovely?— 

Can’t we sing carols now, near the Christ-Child?— 

Spirit of Christmas*. That will be lovely. All come near, 
and we ’ll sing and fill our hearts with the real spirit of 
Christmas. 

[Children draw near and sing several carols, the stage 
curtain going down on the tableau, at the end of 
the last carol.] 

Suggestions for Carols: 

‘ 1 It Came upon the Midnight Clear . 1 ’ 

1 ‘ Holy Night. * * 

“O Little Town of Bethlehem. ” 

“Once a Little Baby Lay .” 

“While Shepherds Watched . . .” 

“God Rest You . . .” 


MOTHER’S CHOICE 
M. Josephine Moroney 

for three little girls and a larger one and one boy 

Scene I : Sitting-room, dimly lighted on Christmas Eve. At 
one 'end of room is a screen, and the play takes place be¬ 
fore the fireplace. Here the mother is seated before the 
fire in a pretty negligee, with four children grouped 
around her. The three little girls are in nightgowns, and 
the boy in pajamas. As the curtain rises the mother is 
finishing a story. 

Mother: “And that was the last that Dolly ever heard of 
the Tree-Fairy.” 


80 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


Billy : Mother, don’t you think the willow is the nicest tree 
of all? 

Helen : What a foolish idea! The oak’s the best. That’s 
the king! 

Margaret : Oh, I like the maple best. 

Doris : The big, graceful elm’s my choice. 

Helen : Mother, what ’s your favorite tree ? 

All: Tell us, Mother! 

Helen : Choose the oak! 

Doris : No, the elm! 

Billy: Mother, say “willow.” 

Margaret: You love maple sugar, Mother dear. 

Mother : How can I agree with you all ? But I have a way 
to settle it! Just wait until morning and I will tell you 
my favorite then. And if you don’t all agree with me, 
I will pay any forfeit you say. Will you wait? 

Billy : Of course we ’ll wait, but we ’ll have a fine big for¬ 
feit ready, for we won’t give up our own favorite for 
any tree. Will we, girls? 

Girls : Indeed, we won’t! 

Mother [starting to rise] : Till morning, then. Come, now! 
Bedtime! 

Helen: Can’t we have just one more story, Mother? 

Billy : ’Bout when you were a little girl ? 

Mother : Oh, children, it’s late, and Christmas Eve we al¬ 
ways go to bed early. 

Doris : But, Mother, we can sing our new Santa Claus song, 
can’t we? 

Margaret : And we must hang our stockings! 

Mother : Oh, yes; and, instead of telling another story about 
when I was a little girl, way up in the country, I’m going 
to let you go to bed the way I used to go. I have a 
candle ready for each one, but you must be very careful. 
Now let’s hang the stockings and then we ’ll sing our 
song. I will hang the baby’s stocking first. 

[Hangs a tiny stocking, and then each one hangs a stock¬ 
ing on tack all ready for it under mantel. Then all 
stand in front of mantel and sing one verse and 
chorus of any well-known song, such as, “Santa 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 


81 

Clans Will Come To-night.” Then Mother lights 
candles that are on side-table, and all form a little 
procession , the Mother last. They march once 
around the room, then out the door.] 

Helen : Let’s sing! 

All: Song already sung. 

Scene II: Same as Scene I, with no stockings save the tiny 
one. Enter four children, dressed, with filled stockings 
in their hands. 

Doris [ investigating stocking] : Oh, a big piece of slippery 
elm! Want some? [Offers piece.] How did Santa 
Claus know the elm was my favorite tree ? 

Margaret [looking into hers] : And maple sugar! He must 
have heard us! 

Helen [joyfully] : And here’s the loveliest little tea set made 
of acorns! I’m glad I chose the oak. 

Billy [emptying his stocking on to the floor] : I haven’t got 
a thing made of willow. Oh, yes, I have! Hear this. 
[Blows shrill blast on small whistle. All cover ears; and 
just then the door opens and Mother enters injpretty 
house dress, with doll in arms, large enough to rep¬ 
resent Baby. Goes to fireplace and takes down tiny 
stocking.] 

Mother [coughing] : What is all this noise about? 

Helen : Oh, Mother, we all got things made from our favorite 
tree, and— 

Billy: Did you hear my whistle made of willow? [Blows 
whistle.] 

Mother [making wry face] : Did I? 

Doris: Oh, Mother, you promised to tell us your favorite 
tree, and we’ve got your forfeit all ready, ’cause we ’ll 
never give up our own favorite tree for yours. What is 
it, Mother ? 

Margaret: Quick, Mother! 

Mother [deliberately] : Let me lay the baby down and then 
we ’ll see. [Lays baby on couch.] Now, all close your 
eyes and keep them tight shut until I say, “Ready.” 


82 


MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


[Takes away screen, behind which is a decorated Christ¬ 
mas tree, and says, “Ready.”] 

Children [at sight of tree ] : Oh, how lovely! 

Doris : Oh, I do like that kind best. 

Margaret : Why did n’t we think what she meant ? 

Mother : What’s the forfeit ? 

Helen: Oh, Mother, you know the Christmas tree is lots 
nicer than the elm, or the oak, or the maple— 

Billy : Or the willow. But I like my whistle, just the same. 

[Blows a shrill blast and all cover their ears.] 

curtain 


CHIPS FROM THE YULE LOG 
M. Josephine Moroney 

FOR FOUR BOYS 

First Boy [dressed in the tender green of a young sapling] : 
I remember how, as sapling, 

’Mid the trees I stood, 

Longing to be tall of stature, 

Monarch of the wood. 

But my one gift was the beauty 
Of my tender green, 

While around me great, strong branches 
Everywhere were seen. 

Second Boy [dressed in green and brown, like a young tree] : 
First as a sapling, then as a tree, 

Always I dreamed of great service to be; 

My heart was broken, there in the glade, 

When I found I was good only for shade; 

But my ambition never took wing, 

And in my soul I still longed to be king. 

Third Boy [sturdy, representing a full-grown tree] : 

Up, up, up, high in the air, 

Towered my branches green and fair; 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 


83 


Chirp, chirp, chirp, there all day long 
Birdlings sang their nesting song; 

Tap, tap, tap, came gentle rain, 

Singing always one refrain, 

‘‘King, king, king, look up and pray! 
You shall be a king some day!” 


Yule Lug [dressed in brown, with red flames made of strips 
of red] : 


From sapling to a stalwart tree 
I grew with every season; 

And now I’m happy as can be, 

And I ’ll tell yon the reason. 

My tender green and dark shade, too, 
They seemed to me but beauty, 

And yet to usefulness I grew, 

Because I did my duty. 

My longing as a king to rule 
At last is satisfied, 

For am I not the King of Yule, 
Enthroned at each fireside? 

THE ENCHANTED BOXES 
Ruth 0. Dyer 

FOR FIVE BOYS AND FIVE GIRLS 
CHARACTERS 


Ethel, the baby sister 
Mother, an older girl 
Fairy Queen, a small child 


Emily, the elder sister 
Harold, the crippled brother 
Mary, a younger sister 


Four Boys, as enchanted boxes 


COSTUMES 


Emily: Simple shirtwaist and skirt; plain white apron. 

Mary and Ethel : Gingham dresses. 

Harold : Regular suit. 

Mother: Plain black dress; large gingham apron. Dark shawl over 
head and around shoulders. 


84 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 

Fairy Queen: Fluffy dress of white tarlatan edged with tinsel. Her 
wings are made of wire covered with white tarlatan and edged with 
tinsel. A round stick of a convenient length covered with tinsel can 
be used for a wand; large gold star is tied to the end. A crown is 
very effective when it is cut from white cardboard and covered with 
tinsel. 

Enchanted Boxes: Dark suits with rolling white collars. The cartons 
can be procured from a hardware store, as they are used in shipping 
lamp chimneys and tinware. A large hole should be cut in the top 
for the head and one in each side for the arms. If the boxes are 
festooned with red crepe paper and sprigs of holly they will be more 
attractive. 

Scene : A homely sitting-room. Emily is sewing at a small 
table. Harold is whittling a piece of wood. Mary and 
Ethel are playing on the floor. 

Emily: It doesn’t seem one bit like Christmas Eve. I wish 
it would snow, then it would at least look more like 
Christmas. 

Harold [pausing in his whittling] : I wish I had a nice pres¬ 
ent for mother. It doesn’t seem like Christmas when 
you can’t.give presents. 

Mary [coming to Emily’s knee and leaning against it] : I 
heard mother say she wanted a nice warm coat. Could n’t 
we get her one in some way ? 

Emily [pinching Mary’s cheek playfulhy] : You can’t make 
coats out of nothing, child. 

Ethel*. Maybe the fairies will help us. Don’t you remem¬ 
ber how they made a whole field of daisies grow for us 
in that vacant lot when we wanted them so badly for May 
• Day? 

Harold: Oh, I don’t believe in fairies any more, for I have 
said their charm a hundred times, and no fairy queen has 
ever appeared to me and asked me to tell her what I 
wished. 

Emily: That’s just it, Harold; you don’t believe in the 
fairies, and that is the reason why your charm has not 
worked. 

Mary : I believe in them, and so does Ethel, and perhaps the 
fairy queen will give us our wish if you and Ethel and I 
say the charm. 


DIALOGUES. EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 


85 


Emily [ folding her work and laying it on the table]: Well, 
let’s get ready to say the charm. Harold, are you going 
to help us? 

Harold : Yes, I guess I 11 help, too. You see, the fairies did 
help us on that May Day when we were in trouble, so I 
can’t say I don’t believe in them. 

[All join hands and skip around three times, then repeat 
in concert] : 

Hickory, pickory, dickory, dock, 

What time is it by the wooden clock? 

Time for the fairies to grant a good wish, 

Come, fairy queen; dish, mish, hish! 

[All sit in circle and twirl thumbs around and around 
without speaking. Fairy Queen appears and stands 
with wand uplifted.] 

Fairy Queen : I have heard the charm of the fairies repeated. 
What is your wish? 

Emily [jumping up enthusiastically] : Oh, Fairy Queen, we 
do want so much to make our mother happy at Christ¬ 
mastime and we haven’t a penny with which to buy 
gifts for her. 

Harold : We want to make her the greatest gift she has ever 
had and we thought you could help us. 

Ethel : To-morrow will be Christmas, you know, so we shall 
have to be quick about it. 

Mary: You ’ll help us, won’t you, dear Fairy Queen? 

Fairy Queen : Your wish is. such an unselfish one that I shall 
be forced by the laws of Fairyland to help you. We 
fairies never let any one who believes in us repeat the 
fairy charm and express an unselfish wish without grant¬ 
ing it. Have you anything about the house that we could 
turn into gifts? 

Emily: There isn’t a single thing. We have used all the 
scraps of goods for doll dresses. 

Fairy Queen : I saw some large boxes out on the wood-pile 
as I passed. Do you mind if I use them ? 

Emily : Mother had them sent up for firewood, but I guess 
she wouldn’t mind. 


86 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 

Fairy Queen : They will still be fit for firewood when I have 
finished with them. Sit down in a circle so I can use my 
fairy wand charm. 

[The children sit in a circle on the floor.] 

Fairy Queen [raising wand and swinging it around her head 
several times] : 

Boxes large and boxes small, 

Come in now, both one and all. 

Come and tell these children dear 
Why they have no need to fear. 

Christmas gifts are not so scarce 
When the winds blow loud and fierce, 

If we give the best we own 
To the ones who make our home. 

Enter four hoys, each wearing a box gaily festooned with red 
crepe paper and holly. 

Fairy Queen : These are all enchanted boxes, and they will 
tell you just how you can make this the happiest Christ¬ 
mas your mother has ever known. 

First Box [Sweet Temper] : My name is Sweet Temper. I 
was given this name because I was once filled with candies. 
Some of the sweetness must have oozed through into my 
sides, for ever since I have just been bubbling over with 
happiness and good cheer. If one of you will choose me- 
and let me spend the Christmas with you it will make 
your mother happier than any gift could. She will 
always take delight in being with the child who has me 
as a constant companion. 

Harold : I want to choose you for my companion during the 
Christmas season. 

Sweet Temper : All right. I ’ll take my place behind you, 
and, although people will see the effect of me, they will not 
be able to see me. 

[Sweet Temper takes place behind Harold.] 

Second Box [Helpful Deeds] : My name is Helpful Deeds, 
and I am glad to see that the Fairy Queen has thought 
enough of me to send me to you. I was once filled with 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 


87 


books which told people how to be useful and happy at the 
same time. While I stood in the storeroom I had ^plenty 
of time to learn all those great books could teach, and I 
know now just what to do at the right time. The one who 
chooses me will be able to show the little mother a happy 
time, for Helpful Deeds has made many a sad day happy 
and will continue to do so. 

Emily : I should like to choose Helpful Deeds as my con¬ 
stant companion if no one else is anxious for him. 

Ethel: Why Emily, it seems that you have had him all the 
time, for you are always so helpful. 

[Helpful Deeds takes place behind Emily.] 

Third Box [Kind Words ] : I see that two of my friends are 
here ahead of me, but I guess there is room for me too. I 
am Kind Words. I was once filled with beautiful mouth- 
organs. They have long ago gone out into the world to 
make people happy with their sweet sounds, but I can 
not forget their influence and I still like to speak kind 
words in memory of them. I am a fine companion for 
this merry season. 

Ethel : Stay with me, and help me to speak words that are 
kind. 

[Kind Words takes place behind Ethel.] 

Fourth Box [Brave Heart] : I shall have to come in too, for 
all my friends on the woodpile have left me for this warm 
room. I am a fine big box and I am sure you cannot 
guess what I once held. No, I see you can’t, so I ’ll tell 
you. I was once filled with little candles, but they have 
all gone out into the world to light weary feet along the 
dark way, and I want to follow their example. Choose 
me for your companion and you will not fear to tread 
the way, no matter where it may lead you, for I am Brave 
Heart. 

Mary : Stay with me and help me to be brave. 

[Brave Heart takes place behind Mary.] 

Harold : My box has begun to work already. I feel as if I 
could sing and shout for joy. 

[Sings gaily a verse of a merry song.] 


88 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 

Emily [rising and putting the room in order ] : I must make 
the room more comfortable for mother when she comes, 
for she will be tired and cold. 

Ethel: I just love you all so much. [Goes to each and 
caresses them in turn.] You are all so sweet and good 
to me. 

Mary: I don’t seem to care what happens. I feel so very 
brave. 

Enter the Mother in coarse dress with shawl over head. 

Emily [unpinning shawl and drawing a chair to the fire] : 
Here, Mother, sit down. It is cold outdoors and our room 
is nice and pleasant. 

Harold: We are all so happy when you are here with us, 
Mother. 

Ethel [kissing her mother] : We love you so much, Mother 
dear. 

Mother : I wish I had a grand Christmas present for each of 
you, for there never was a mother who had such good 
children before. 

Mary: We don’t need Christmas gifts, Mother, for we have 
the grandest Christmas gift all the year around —the best 
mother in all the wide world. 

Mother: Why I don’t think I ever saw you all so happy 
before. What is the cause of it? 

Emily : I ’ll tell you, Mother. We all have a Christmas pres¬ 
ent for you. I am going to give you from now on all the 
helpful deeds I can. 

Harold : And I am going to keep a sweet temper for you. 

Ethel : And I am going to speak kind words for three hun¬ 
dred sixty-five days. 

Mary : I am going to be brave and helpful always. 

Mother : Well, these are the best Christmas gifts any mother 
could have. They are all gifts that will help to brighten 
this little corner of the world. 

Emily : Let’s all sit at mother’s feet and sing “Brighten the 
Comer” [or any Christmas song]. 

[All seat themselves at the Mother’s feet and sing.] 

Normal Instructor and Primary Plans 


89 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 


DICKENS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL 


Effie L. Bean 
CHARACTEES 


Ebenezer Scrooge 
Jacob Marley, the Ghost 
Christmas Spirit of the Past 
Christmas Spirit of the Present 
Christmas Spirit of the Future 
Bob Cratchit 
Mrs. Cratchit 
Peter Cratchit 


Belinda Cratchit 
Martha Cratchit 
The Two Young Cratchits 
(a hoy and a girl) 

Tiny Tim 

Fred Scrooge and His Wife 
Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig 
Guests 


Children playing—Men and Women on street—Fiddler 


COSTUMES 

Scrooge: Knee breeches, white stockings, low shoes, white vest and 
necktie and long-tailed black coat. Overcoat very long and old- 
fashioned. Cap drawn down over ears. Long muffler, wound several 
times around the neck. Mittens. 

Bob Cratchit, Fezziwig (and all other men and boys): Dressed sim¬ 
ilar to above. 

Mrs. Cratchit, Mrs. Fezziwig (and all other women and girls) : Tight 
fitting bodice with kerchief crossed on breast, wide skirt with hoops, 
if possible. 

Marley’s Ghost: Dressed in long white robe with a heavy chain around 
the waist which drags on the floor. 

Christmas Spirit of the Past: Dressed in white trimmed with flowers. 
Long blonde hair hanging down the back. Carries branch of green 
holly in one hand. 

Christmas Spirit of the Present: Deep green robe or mantle, bordered 
with white fur. Holly wreath on head, set here and there with shin¬ 
ing icicles or snow (made of cotton sprinkled with mica). Dark 
brown curls. Old sword sheath girded around waist. (No sword.) 

Christmas Spirit of the Future : Deep black garment concealing form 
and face, one outstretched hand. 


Scene I 

Scrooge’s Dream 
Time : Christmas Eve. 

Place: Room in Scrooge’s home showing a fireplace , two 
chairs, cupboard, table, and a couch, placed obliquely in 
front of a large curtained opening into the next room. 
This large opening is to form the frame of the different 
pictures to be shown. 


90 


MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


Scrooge [entering room through large door or opening and 
beginning to remove outdoor wraps] : Merry Christmas! 
Merry Christmas! That’s all I ’ve heard on my way 
home from the office! Such nonsense! Such buying of 
foolish toys and useless fruits and nuts and candies. 
Bah! Well, not one cent of my money goes for such 
things. Now, there’s my clerk, Bob Cratchit, poor as a 
church mouse. Yet even he could scarcely wait until 
closing time to celebrate Christmas. And to think I 
must close my office all day to-morrow, just because it ’s 
Christmas! And my nephew, Fred, came to invite me 
to dinner to-morrow. Expects me to give presents to 
the whole family, 1 suppose. Well, I won’t give them a 
penny. Nor shall I go there to dinner. Fred had better 
save his money instead of giving dinners. I ’ll eat my 
supper now and then lie down awhile. [Goes to cup¬ 
board and gets bowl, pitcher of milk, and slice of bread. 
Places them on table. Sits down. Breaks bread into bowl 
and pours milk over it. Picks up spoon and begins to 
eat.] Now who would want a better supper than this? 
[Eats in silence a few seconds, then puts down spoon.] 
I think I will save the rest for breakfast. 

[Scrooge rises, goes to couch, lies down, and closes eyes. 
Suddenly the ringing of a bell, followed by the 
clanking of chains, is heard. Sound comes nearer and 
nearer, and finally Marley’s Ghost appears between 
curtains of large opening and looks at Scrooge. 
Walks slowly around couch, pointing at Scrooge.] 

Marley’s Ghost: There lies my old business partner. 

Scrooge [sitting up] : Marley? Are you Jacob Marley? 

Marley’s Ghost: When I was alive I was Marley. 

Scrooge : What do you want ? 

Marley’s Ghost : I have come to warn you. 

Scrooge: Warn me? About what? 

Marley’s Ghost : Do you see this long chain I wear ? 

Scrooge: Yes. Why do you wear it? 

Marley’s Ghost: Each link in this chain means some mean 
act I performed while alive or some opportunity for 
helping my fellow-creatures which I neglected. 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 


91 


Scrooge : Why, you always attended faithfully to business. 

Marley’s Ghost : The business of making money, yes! But 
the business of helping my neighbors, no! So I have 
come to give you a chance of escaping my fate. 

Scrooge: Tell me what to do. 

Marley*s Ghost: I shall send three spirits to you. Heed 
well their warnings. [ Disappears with wave of hand. ] 
[Scrooge lies down again. Suddenly a clock strikes one 
and the Christmas Spirit of the Past skips in ami 
dances three times around Scrooge’s couch.] 

Scrooge [ rising ] : Who are you? 

First Spirit : I am the Christmas Spirit of the Past. 

Scrooge : Why did you come ? 

First Spirit: To help you to do better. Look! What do 
you see ? 

[First Spirit points to curtains in large opening, which 
are drawn apart from opposite sides. In the open¬ 
ing appear boys running, playing ball, and shouting. 
Others dressed as grown-up men and women pass by 
carrying bundles and holly wreaths. As they meet 
and pass each other they call, “Merry Christmas!” 
“Christmas Greetings!” to each other.] 

[Draw Curtains] 

Scrooge-. How well I remember those happy days when I 
was a boy! 

First Spirit [pointing to opening, where curtains are again 
drawn apart and the scene is changed] : Do you remem¬ 
ber this Christmas? 

[Fezziwig and Mrs. Fezziwig are standing together and 
shaking hands with guests as they appear. Fiddler 
appears and seats himself on an elevated chair and 
begins to tune up. After greetings are over, they 
dance. For the dance the piano may be used and the 
fiddler just go through the motions of playing, if it is 
impossible to get one who can play the violin.] 

[Draw Curtains] 

Scrooge : How good Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig were to me! And 
what good times we always had at Christmas time! 


92 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 

First Spirit : And what is this ? 

[He points to opening where scene has changed. Young 
man and young woman facing each other. Young 
woman shakes head and holds up hand forbidding 
young man to approach and slowly backs out of sight. 
Young man bows head, turns and leaves.] 

[Draw Curtains] 

Scrooge : Ah! that maiden believed I loved money more than 
I loved herself and so she left me. 

First Spirit : And did yon ? 

Scrooge : Alas! that I did. [Bows head in hands.] 

[Spirit skips around couch once and disappears through 
the curtains, waving hand. Shortly a clock is heard 
to again strike one and the Christmas Spirit of the 
Present enters and walks around the couch once, 
then pauses in front of Scrooge, who looks up.] 

Scrooge.- Who are you? 

Second Spirit : I am the Christmas Spirit of the Present. 

Scrooge : Why are you here ? 

Second Spirit : To show you the good you may do to others. 

Scrooge : Yes, yes, help me. 

Second Spirit : Now watch closely. 

[Scene in opening changes. Men and boys go past the 
opening carrying snow-shovels over their shoulders 
and shouting greetings to each other. “Fine sleigh¬ 
ing we ’ll have now.” “Come to the snowball, match 
to-morrow, boys.” “Merry Christmas! Merry 
Christmas!” Shoppers walk by rapidly, carrying 
bundles, baskets, toys, etc.] 

[Draw Curtains] 

Scrooge : How happy they seem! 

Second Spirit : They are happy. They have the true Christ¬ 
mas spirit. Now what is this? 

[Scene changes. Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, his Wife, and 
Guests are seated at a table; pass things, and eat.] 

Fred • I asked Uncle Scrooge to come and share our Christ¬ 
mas dinner. 

Wife: Why didn’t he come? 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 


93 


Fred : He said Christmas was a humbug. 

Wife : Is n’t he very rich ? 

Fred: Yes, but he does not enjoy himself, nor do any good 
with his money. • 

Guest : He must be a queer man. 

Fred and Wife : He is. 

Fred : I am sorry for him. But every Christmas I shall ask 
him to come to dinner. Maybe some day he will come. 

[Draw Curtains] 

Scrooge: How happy my nephew and his friends are! 

[Bows head on hands.] 

[Music is heard and voices singing a Christmas carol 
softly as if at a distance. Spirit disappears through 
the opening. Shortly after the carol is finished, the 
clock strikes two and the Christmas Spirit of 
the Future enters very slowly with outstretched 
hand and paces slowly to and fro, then stops near 
Scrooge, who looks up.] 

Scrooge : Are you the Christmas Spirit of the Future ? 

[Third Spirit nods slowly, three times. Then turns and 
points to opening. Scrooge looks and sees two men 
meet in opening and talk.] 

First Man : So the old fellow is gone. 

Second Man: Yes, but no one cares. 

First Man : Did he never do a good deed ? 

Second Man : I never heard of any. 

First Man : Well, good-bye, and a Merry Christmas! 

Second Man: Merry Christmas! 

[Draw Curtains] 

Scrooge: Whom are they talking about? 

[Spirit shakes head and points to opening, where scene 
changes again . Two women meet.] 

First Woman *. Have you heard the news ? 

Second Woman : Oh, yes! Everybody knows it. 

First Woman : Did he have any friends ? 

Second Woman : Not a single real one. He did n’t want any. 
All he wanted was money. 

First Woman: Too bad! But it was his own fault. 


94 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


Second Woman : Well, good-bye, and a Merry Christmas! 
First Woman: The same to you! 

[Draw Curtains] 

Scrooge: Whom are they talking about? 

[Third Spirit points to opening, where scene changes. 
Several men, women and children stand looking in 
one direction.] 

First Woman : There goes the funeral. 

Second Woman : Poor Scrooge! Not a single friend. 

[Draw Curtains] 

Scrooge [placing hands to head] : They were talking about 
me! Oh, what shall I do ? 

[He falls upon couch and buries head in pillow. Spirit 
glides from sight. In a few seconds a clock is heard 
striking six. Scrooge sits, up, rubs eyes, looks about, 
puts hands to head, rises and looks all around.] 
Scrooge : Why, it was only a dream! How glad I am ! And 
just think, this is Christmas Day! Now, I ’ll see what 
I can do to make this a happy Christmas for someone. 
[Hurries about, puts O'n coat, cap, muffler, and mittens. 
Leaves room.] 

curtain 
Scene II 

The Cratchit Christmas Dinner 
Time : Christmas Day. 

Place : Kitchen in the Cratchit home. Large table in center 
of room. Mrs. Cratchit and Belinda spread a white 
cloth on the table and then set on the dishes. 

Mrs. Cratchit-. I wonder why your sister Martha doesn't 
come. 

Belinda: Here she is now, Mother 
Martha [entering] : Yes, here I am. 

Mrs. Cratchit [running to her and taking off her shawl and 
bonnet] : What made you so late, my dear? 

Martha: We had some work to finish and we just got 
through. Where is father? 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, AND PLAYS 


95 


Two Young Cratchits, a boy and a girl [jumping up and 
down, while looking out of the window] : Here he comes, 
and Tiny Tim, too! Hide, Martha, hide. [Martha hides 
behind curtains.] 

Bob Cratchit [entering, leading by the hand Tiny Tim, who 
walks with a crutch] : Well, here we are at last. [Looks 
around.] Where’s Martha? 

Mrs. Cratchit : Oh, perhaps she’s not coming. 

Bob Cratchit: Not coming? Why not? 

Martha [running from behind the curtains] : Here I am, 
Father. 

Bob Cratchit [embracing her] : Well, I’m most happy to 
see you, my dear. 

Two Young Cratchits [going up to Tiny Tim] : Come to 
the kitchen, Tiny Tim, and see the goose roasting and 
hear the pudding sing. [They go off, one on each side of 
Tiny Tim.] 

Mrs. Cratchit : How did Tiny Tim behave in church to-day? 

Bob Cratchit: He was as good as gold, and all the people 
spoke to him. 

Ttny Tim [entering alone, leaning on his crutch] : Oh, Father 
and Mother! everything looks and smells so good. We 
are going to have a fine dinner, are n’t we ? 

[The Two Young Cratchits enter, bearing a goose on a 
large platter. They place it carefully on the table. 
Mrs. Cratchit enters, carrying a bowl of gravy. 
Peter enters with a large chopping bowl half full of 
boiled potatoes, which he proceeds to mash vigorously, 
then carries them from the room, returning shortly 
with them in a bowl, which he places on the table. 
Belinda dishes up the sauce. Martha dusts off the 
plates. Bob leads Tiny Tim to the table and helps 
him to a seat, then sits beside him. The Two Young 
Cratchits place chairs for the rest and all sit at the 
table. Mrs. Cratchit helps everybody to potatoes 
and gravy and prepares to cut the goose. Tiny Tim 
and- the Two Young Cratchits pound on table with 
their spoons* and shout, “Hurrah!”] 

Bob Cratchit: I don’t think there ever was such a goose. 


96 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


Mrs. Cratchit : And just think, there ’s plenty for everybody. 
[She rises and leaves room, returning with a large round 
pudding with a sprig of holly sticking in the top. 
The Two Young Cratchits bring in nuts, apples, 
and oranges.] 

Bob Cratchit [rising and raising his glass of water] : A 
Merry Christmas to us all, my dears! God bless us! 

All: God bless us! 

Tiny Tim : God bless us, every one! 

Bob Cratchit : I wish poor Mr. Scrooge could be here. But 
all he wants is money. Poor man! [Rap is heard at door.] 

All : Come in. 

[Door opens and Scrooge enters smiling and with his 
arms loaded with presents.] 

Scrooge : A Merry Christmas to you all! And here are a 
few presents for you. A nice picture book and a game for 
you, Tim [patting him on the head], a ball and bat for 
you [handing them to one of the Young Cratchits], a 
doll for you [handing it to the other Young Cratchit], 
and a new dress for you and you [handing them to Be¬ 
linda and Martha] . And here, in this envelope, is some¬ 
thing for you and your good wife [handing it to Bob]. 

All : Oh, thank you, Mr. Scrooge! 

Bob Cratchit : Won’t you sit down and have dinner with us ? 

Scrooge : Thank you, my friends, not this time. I am going 
to my nephew Fred’s for dinner, so I must go. Good-bye 
and a Merry Christmas. [Exit, with a wave of his hand.] 
[The Cratchits look at each other in amazement.] 

Bob [opens envelope as they crowd around and draws out sev¬ 
eral banknotes and holds them up] : What does it mean? 

Mrs. Cratchit [raising her hands] : May the good Lord bless 
Mr. Scrooge! His heart has changed. Now we can send 
Tiny Tim away to be cured, so he won’t be lame any more. 

Bob Cratchit : Hurrah for Mr. Scrooge! 

All: Hurrah! Hurrah! [Waving hands.] 

curtain 

Primary Education 


FANCY DRILLS AND MARCHES 

THE MARCH OF THE EVERGREENS 
Marie Irish 

FOR EIGHT OR TWELVE CHILDREN OF THE PRIMARY GRADES 

Either eight or twelve children may take part, as stage will accommo¬ 
date, half of whom are boys and half girls. Boys wear dark suits and 
trimming of bright red, cuffs, collar, belt, and red cap; girls wear white 
dresses trimmed with green crepe paper, collar, ruffle around sleeves, 
sash, and ruffle around bottom of dress, with a green band around hair 
and butterfly bow at top of head. Each child carries a spray of ever¬ 
green which is fastened to a stick, the girls’ sticks being wound with 
green paper and the boys’ with red. 

The girls enter in single file, evergreen held in right hand, 
stick across chest, evergreen on left shoulder. They pass up 
left side of stage, across back, where they form in line six; 
abreast, facing front, then come forward two feet and halt. 
The boys then enter, holding evergreen in same manner as 
girls, pass up left side and halt in line across back of stage, 
standing just back of the girls. All raise evergreen and wave 
back and forth slowly until a signal is given by the director, 
who stands just off the stage; then girls face the left, boys face 
the right, girls pass down left of stage, boys down the right; 
girls form in line across the front of stage and boys form line 
just back of them; all halt. During the march the evergreen 
is carried on shoulder, when all are in place at front they raise 
branches and wave as before; then little girls kneel and wave 
their branches in front of them, while boys wave theirs over 
the heads of the girls. Boys then face right of stage, girls 
the left, pass up sides, meet at center of back and form couples. 
First couple halts, facing; next couple comes through between 
first couple and halts just in front of them; next couple comes 
through and halts in front of first two, etc. At signal all turn, 
boys face right of stage, girls left, so couples stand with their 
backs together and all hold evergreen raised high, pointing 

97 


98 


MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


toward top of side they are facing. At signal all face about so 
couples stand facing, raise evergreens and hold them so those of 
each couple touch, forming an arch. After holding this pose, 
the couple at back comes down under the raised branches, then 
next couple follows, etc. At front of stage all boys turn to the 
left, all girls to right, pass to corners of front and form there 
in diagonal lines to center of back, all holding evergreen 
against left shoulder. Here the first girl kneels, the other 
girls stand in semicircle back of her, the boys stand just back 
of the girls, all raise branches and wave. After holding this 
pose till signal is given, they come up center to front in single 
file, the girl who was kneeling leading, then a boy, then a 



Diagram 1 Diagram 2 


girl, etc., girls •and boys alternating. Pass to left corner of 
front, down left side to back, across to center of back, and 
here they halt as shown in Diagram 1, last boy and girl in file 
kneeling, facing with branches raised and crossed, the others 
with branches raised high and pointing upward diagonally 
to the front. 

At signal the two kneeling rise and all pass in single file, 
same order as in the last march, the girl who was kneeling as 
leader, from center of back to left corner of back, down left 
side, across to center of front, down to center of stage, where 
all the boys form a circle, holding their branches raised high, 
and the girls march around the boys—the latter standing still 
—waving their branches. Pass twice around, going from left 
to right, then twice going from right to left. Then the boys 
go out to left, girls out to center of right side, from there in 
diagonal lines to center of back, form couples, and come down 







FANCY DRILLS AND MARCHES 


99 


center in couples (Diagram 2), with branches raised and 
crossed. At the front they form a single file, boys'stepping 
into line back of girls, all hold branch with both hands, a hand 
at each end and hold it horizontally above the head. Pass 
around stage in large circle and exeunt. 


CHRISTMAS BELL DRILL 
Ethel M. Hall 

/ 

FOR TWELVE GIRLS FROM SEVEN TO NINE YEARS OF AGE 
COSTUMES 

The dresses may be made of white cheesecloth, short waists, long, full 
skirts, low, round necks and short sleeves. The sashes of a very dark 
green with a double bow ?.nd long Streamers fastened to the yoke at the 
front and on the left side. The hair ribbons should be of the same color. 

Wreaths used are made of heavy wire about thirty-six inches long 
securely wrapped with the same green material as the sash. Each hoop 
should be bent to )rm a semicircle. On the inside fasten six small 
Christmas bells, leaving the -ame amount of space between the bells and 
enough space at each end for the hands to hold the hoop firmly. Shoes 
and stockings, white. 

MUSIC 

“Laughing Water’’ record, used on the Victor phonograph, works very 
well with this drill, but any piece with marked rhythm and 4-4 time 
may be used. The music must be such that it will allow a slide step and 
march, the change from one to the other being rapid, and no break in 
music should be allowed. 

Heel-and-toe step takes two counts—counts three and four may be 
walking or slide steps. 

1. Enter by twos from right of stage or space used. 
Wreaths of bells on left shoulder. Heel-and-toe step, start¬ 
ing with left foot and a slight swaying motion. Around stage 
once,-across, back to center; when starting down center place 
wreaths together over heads so as to form a double half circle 
over each couple. First couple continue down center to front 
of stage. Couples two and four pass diagonally from back- 
center to right side, number two occupying the front and num¬ 
ber four a goodly space behind and slightly to left. This allows 
the various couples to be seen. Members three and five take 


100 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 

same position to left of stage and number six remains at back 
of stage and in line with the first couple. 

2. Couples side-step so as to leave an even space and show 
all faces. 

3. The whole group of ones circle, turning to right and 
holding wreaths high over heads. Each child makes a very 
small circle so as to face the front at the same time. 

4. Side-step back into positions of twos. Wreaths over 
heads. 

5. Right-hand girls of the couples turn to back of stage, 
wreaths over heads, shoulders touching partner’s—the twos 
circle, holding wreaths to form letter “n.” 

6. Then couples one, two and five turn to back of stage, 
wreaths held at the same height, and partly framing faces. 
Couples three, four and six face front of stage. March toward 
each other until directly opposite, then side-step; couples one 
and three joining to form a group of four, two facing front 
and two toward the back. Couples two and four, also five 
and six, form in same way. Circle making wheels must keep 
together and the tops of hoops should look like the letter 
“m” with one more loop. 

7. Couples side-step back into twos and occupy same posi¬ 
tion as figure two, all facing front. Then gradually and in 
time with music, side-step to center of stage, forming a vertical 
line from front to back of stage. 

8. Right-hand girls of line form one large circle to the right 
of stage and left-hand girls a large circle at left of stage, hold¬ 
ing wreaths to center of each circle. Leaders must watch each 
other so as to keep their circles even and wreaths on a level. 
Go around twice. The last time come to center vertical line, 
swinging wreaths over head as each girl drops into place. 

9. Position of twos—side-stepping to reach proper places. 
Couples five, six, and four face partners, raise hoops to form 
an archway. Couples one, two, and three drop hoops down 
around necks or they are carried like a jumping rope; this line 
then weaves in and out the archways formed by couples five, 
six, and four, and returns to original position, faces partners, 
and raises hoops to form archways. Then couples five, six, 
and four drop hoops and weave in and out of archways to 
original position. 



FANCY DRILLS AND MARCHES 


101 


10. Position of twos like figure “2.” 

11. Positions. All are in twos: 

(a) Wreaths held high to form archways with each group of 
twos and facing partners. 

(&) One girl of each group holds wreath in front of couples 
and the other behind as playing secrets. 

(c) Wreaths thrown back over head. Defiant attitude. 

(d) Wreaths and heads bent away. Pointing. 

( e ) Peek-a-boo. Turn back, peep through wreaths, laugh¬ 
ing expression, as if just decided to make up and he good 
friends. 

(/) Swinging—wreaths held just below chin and turned to 
left, slightly, then swing to right and left like chimes. This 
must be done in perfect time. All bells turning to right and 
left in unison. Repeat. 

(g) Kneel—right-hand girl of each couple kneels—slowly 
—the left-hand one steps behind and crowns her with the 
wreath she is holding. This gives the effect of pictures in 
frames. The girls kneeling drop their wreaths in their laps. 

(h) Arise and swing as in figure (/). 

(i) Use heel-and-toe step for exit by twos. Sixth couple 
goes first, using the above step and holding wreaths over heads 
so as to form an “n.” Number four follows in like manner. 
Then five and 'two. Number three makes a slight turn and 
crosses stage near center. Number one follows, and as num¬ 
ber one reaches exit turns, bows, or gives a low dip-curtsy. 

The couples must keep good time and hold wreaths evenly. 

This is a very attractive drill with small expense. Good 
marked time is the secret of success. 

Primary Education 


DANCE OF THE FAIRIES 
Marie Irish 

FOR TWELVE GIRLS OF THE PRIMARY OR INTERMEDIATE GRADES 

Girls wear slippers and white stockings, short dresses made of crepe 
paper and cheesecloth—a plain waist and short sleeves with ruffle of 
crepe paper around neck and sleeves, rather full skirt with ruffle of crepe 
paper; and, instead of wings, a big bow of crepe paper in the back, 


102 . MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


with short ends hanging to below waist line. Each girl wears a cunning 
little crepe paper cap with ruffle around face to match her dress. Hair 
curled and hanging about shoulders. Three girls wear white dresses, 
three green, three red, and three yellow. 

To lively dance music the three white fairies run on to stage 
and halt at back long enough to get into line three abreast 
and take hold of hands, then, with hands raised, they skip 
down center to front of stage, keeping time to music; still 
holding hands all bow, drop hands, and each turns around 
from left to right, using about four little dance steps to make 
the turn; then clap hands three times above heads, skip over 
to left of stage and stand in group, one girl kneeling, other 
two standing back of her with right hands joined. The three 
red fairies then run in in the same manner and, after making 
the same movements, stand in a group at the right side of 
stage. The green fairies enter and go through same move¬ 
ments, taking position at left, but farther back on stage and 
not so far to the left as the white group. Lastly, the yellow 
fairies run in, and, after doing same as others, take position in 
line with the green ones, as far from the right side of the stage 
as green group is from the left. When all are in place kneeling 
girls rise, each group joins hands and skips lightly around in 
a circle from left to right, then from right to left; then drop 
hands and stand in groups three abreast. All the fairies speak 
in concert. 

All the Fairies : 

We are gay little Christmas fairies, 

We help Mother Nature and Santa Claus; 

We are busy, useful little people, 

And we w r ork for a wonderful cause; 

For we help to make your Christmas merry, 

We aid in making it beautiful, too; 

Each group has a special task to perform— 

Just listen, we ’ll tell of the work we do. 

White Fairies : 

Most everybody loves a white Christmas. 

We work in the cold when chilly w r inds blow, 

Because we have to help Father Winter 
Provide you the frost and ice and snow. 


•FANCY DRILLS AND MARCHES 


108 


Red Fairies : 

Red is a favorite Christmas color. 

It speaks of cheer and makes the homes look jolly; 

We bring you the red for bells and garlands, 

And the brilliant berries of the holly. 

Green Fairies : 

We are most important fairies indeed. 

We bring you the well-beloved Christmas green 

Of the balsam, the holly, and pine 
That give the charm to each gay Christmas scene. 
Yellow Fairies : 

Our color is found in the shining stars, 

In the tapers tall that from windows gleam, 

And in the candles on Christmas-tree boughs, 

Making them look like a fairyland dream. 

The green and white fairies pass in single file down left side 
as yellow and red fairies pass down the right; form in two 
lines across back of stage; join hands and run down to front, 
where they sway hands—still joined—from side to side and 
point right toe over across the left foot as they all speak : 

All the Fairies : 

We are gay little Christmas fairies, 

And a wonderful work for you we do; 

We help to make your Christmas merry, 

We aid in making it beautiful, too. 

One line now passes up left side and halts, while the other 
line halts along the right side of stage; then both lines advance 
with skipping step to center six abreast; and, when the two 
lines meet, each couple, as they face, joins hands and swings 
once c round, then lines skip backward to places along sides 
of stage, face back, pass to corners of back and across to center 
of back, keeping time to music with a skip or a dance step. 
Come up the center of stage in couples, hands joined and 
raised, stepping forward with the right foot, then giving a 
little spring on right toes, raising the heel from the floor; then 
forward with the left foot the same, etc. 

As they reach center front, with right hands joined and 
raised, each couple halts just long enough for the right-hand 


104 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


member to go through under the raised hands while at same 
time the left-hand member faces to the left and turns around 
under the hands, keeping hands joined until each has passed 
under them. As they pass under, those on the right hand go 
to right corner front, others to left corner, then in diagonal 
lines to the center of stage, where they form a large circle, all 
facing to the center. The red and white fairies skip in and out 
around the others; then the green and yellow fairies skip in 
and out around the red and white ones. Then part face about 
so that all in circle are facing the front of stage; each group 
joins hands and holds them raised high. The white fairies 
run down three abreast to where they stood at the first of drill 
and, as they halt, the girl nearest right lets go hands (other 
girl drops hand to side) and she comes through under the 
raised hands of other two and kneels in front of them. The 
red fairies then run down to their first position and do the 
same; then the other two follow, greens and then yellows in 
same manner. 

The kneeling girls rise, all join hands and move backward 
with skipping step, twelve abreast or in semicircle to back of 
stage; then run down in same position to front, turn to right, 
skip up right of stage and exeunt. 


CHRISTMAS PENNANT DRILL 
MxVRie Irish 

FOR TEN OR MORE GIRLS, OR FIVE OR MORE BOYS AND AN EQUAL 
NUMBER OF GIRLS OF THE INTERMEDIATE GRADES 

Each member carries a pennant at least a yard long, fastened to a 
stick. If pennants are made from thin cloth, such as cambric, they 
should be made double, the letters being sewed on before the pennant is 
put together. Half of the pennants should be red, the other half green, 
and have the letters “ Merry Christmas’ ’ cut from white cloth. Each 
child wears a small cloth cap of same material and color as pennant. 


Enter in double file at corner of front, holding pennant in 
right hand and letting it fall back over right shoulder. Pass 
up side to back, across to center of back, down center of stage 


FANCY DRILLS AND MARCHES 


105 


to front; boys go in diagonal line to left corner of back, and 
girls same to right corner of back; cross to center and form 
couples, holding pennants up, and to the front with sticks 
crossed. Come down center to front; lines cross, boys going to 
right corner of front and girls to left; then in diagonal lines to 
center of back, where they again form couples, raise pennants, 
and cross as before. Come down the center to front, pass in 
couples in diagonal line to center of right side, then to center 
of back, to center of left side, and back to center of front, hat¬ 
ing outlined a diamond. At center of front form a single file, 
boys falling into line back of girls, pass up center; and from 
center of back the girls form side of a A at right and boys at 


• • 



•• •• 

• • 


r.1 

•b 


i * 


Diagram 1 Diagram 2 


the left, as in Diagram 1. First girl in file stands at a and 
first boy at b, the others standing in order as they come. Stand¬ 
ing form thus, they all raise pennants and wave them as they 
say: 

Merry Christmas to one, Merry Christmas to all! 

Merry Christmas to you and your neighbor; 

Oh, hang up the garlands and light the Yule log; 

Lay aside all your cares and your labor. 

Girls then pass back and form in line at back, the boys pass 
back and halt in line just back of the girls, all facing front 
(Diagram 2). They take hold of pennant at point with left 
hand, and hold it with left hand extended to the left, arm’s 
length, stick in right hand. Then, at a signal, move pennant 
to the right, until right hand is out at right side arm’s length 
and left hand, holding point, is in front of body. Then, at a 
signal, still holding pennant with both hands, raise it and hold 






106 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


above head, hands up diagonally from shoulders. At a signal 
the two lines then march down abreast to front, pennants still 
held above head. On reaching the front the girls kneel and 
boys stand just back of them. If there is an even number of 
girls, they hold pennants with sticks crossed—that is, each two 
girls do—and if an uneven number, the girl at center of line 
holds her pennant up and out to front, the others in couples 
cross sticks. The boys hold pennants just the same as do the 
gfirls. They all repeat: 

Get Christmas in your hearts, my friends, , 

Help set this good old world aglow; 

Get busy making someone happy, 

Smile your loudest and don't be slow! 

Girls rise, all hold pennant with stick resting on top of head, 
the left hand holding point down at left side so as to bring 
pennant taut. March thus in single file around stage in circle, 
a girl and then a boy—same order as when they marched single 
file before. The file goes to right, and up right side in making 
circle; when the leader gets back to front, after completing 
circle, she leads file up right side to corner of back, and from 



Diagram 3 


Diagram 4 


there in diagonal line to left corner of front. The file halts 
in line extending from left front to right corner back; pennants 
with stick in right hand just in front of body, point in left 
hand out at side to hold pennant taut. Then at a signal the 
leader turns to left and marches along line to center of stage 
and winds up by going around in circles, each smaller than 
the first, till all are in a bunch with pennants raised and held 






FANCY DRILLS AND MARCHES 


107 


together in a group (Diagram 3). They sing to the tune of 
'Jolly Old St. Nicholas:” 

Merry Christmas to you all, 

Greeting now we bring; 

We ’ll enjoy a holiday 
While the glad bells ring. 

Secrets hiding everywhere, 

Stockings on the wall, 

Santa Claus is coming soon, 

With hi3 gifts for all. 

Christmas stars up in the sky, 

Candles shining bright; 

Smiling faces everywhere 
Help the world to light; 

Maybe you will find your gifts 
Hanging on a tree— 

Oh, the merry Christmas Day, 

Joy for you and me! 


The last boy in the line now leads in unwinding—pennants 
held over right shoulder as on entering—by marching in circles 
and as they march they sing again the words of the second 
stanza. When the line is unwound, they finally halt across 
back of stage, facing front; then six step forward and form 
groups of three, two holding pennants with both hands in front 
of body, third member holding pennant same, only high. The 
others stand back of the groups (Diagram 4). At a signal the 



Diagram 5 

members at back come forward and form group (the two 
groups remaining as they were) at the front, first girl kneeling 




108 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


with pennant held taut in front of her; the others, holding 
pennants with both hands, form an arch with them over her 
head, some being held high, others low (Diagram 5). 

The girl kneeling rises and leads line, all form single file, 
girls and boys alternating, pass down center to front, where 
each boy steps up by the girl ahead, and couples are formed. 
Pass around the stage in couples, pennants held to the front, 
held up and crossed. As they come to place where they exeunt, 
the leaders halt and hold pennants high for the others to pass 
under; then they follow off. 


CHRISTMAS FLAG DRILL 
Marie Irish 

FOR SEVENTEEN CHILDREN (EIGHT BOYS AND NINE GIRLS OR ALL 
GIRLS) OF THE INTERMEDIATE OR GRAMMAR GRADES 

(The drill may be given by thirteen children if desired.) 

Girls wear white dresses with evergreen or holly sewed around the 
neck and sleeves and on the skirt; boys have evergreen around collar, 
sleeves, and down front of coat; both boys and girls wear red caps (can 
be made of crepe paper), and each carries a flag that has a bunch of 
evergreen or holly fastened to top of staff (a nail can be driven into staff 
and evergreen fastened to this). One girl taller than the rest dresses as 
Goddess of Liberty, with crown, sash of red, white, and blue, and car¬ 
ries a large flag. She does not come on to stage till near the close of 
the drill. 

Enter in single file, boys and girls alternating, flags carried 
with staff resting against right shoulder; pass from right 
corner of back to left corner of front, down left side; from 
left corner back to right corner of front (in diagonal line) ; 
down right side, across to center of back, down center of stage 
to front, boys go to right, girls to left; pass in diagonal lines to 
center of sides, then diagonally to center of back, where they 
form couples, raising flags and crossing staffs. Come up center 
to front; first couple goes to right, second to left, etc.; pass to 
corners of front, down sides, meet at center of back and halt 
in fours. All raise flags, holding them forward, wave them. 


FANCY DRILLS AND MARCHES 


109 


come up stage to front four abreast, singing to the tune of 
‘ ‘ Marching Through Georgia: ’ ’ 

We will make a thoroughfare for freedom and her train, 

From the north unto the south, from east to western main, 

Treason flees before us, for resistance is in vain, 

Led by the banner of freedom. 

Chorus : 

Hurrah, hurrah, we bring the jubilee! 

Hurrah, hurrah, the flag that makes us free! 

Sing a mighty chorus in the cause of liberty, 

While we are marching for freedom. 

On reaching front the lines halt, place flag against right 
shoulder, and continue singing. At the words “The flag that 
makes us free” raise flags and hold them forward until end 
of chorus. As song is finished march music begins again ; form 




couples, each couple starting from the center of front and in 
the same order as when they came down center in couples. 
Pass to right corner front, down right side, across to half-way 
between right corner and center of back, where the first half 
of the couples turn, go up and halt; the last half of couples 
pass on to half-way between center of back and left corner 
back; then they turn, pass up, and halt, all facing front 
(Diagram 1). During the march flag is held against right 
shoulder. When all are in place, each couple holds flags to the 
front with staffs crossed, twelve counts; face each other and 
hold flags high, tips of staffs touching to form arch, twelve 
counts; face about, couples with backs together, and hold flags 
high, pointing up toward top of side of stage, twelve counts; 











110 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


face about and hold flags again to form arch, twelve counts; 
then those on right side of stage, beginning with couple stand¬ 
ing nearest front of stage, pass under the upraised flags, going 
to the back of stage, each couple falling into line, single file, 
pass from back of stage over and down between lines of those 
on left side of stage, then down left side, across back of stage, 
and halt again in their places (Diagram 2). 

When they have halted, those on left side march over and 
between lines, same as the first file did, returning to places, 
where they halt. Now come down to center of front in single 
files, lines cross, pass to corners of front; then in diagonal 
lines to opposite corner of back, the two files crossing at center 




of stage; turn and form in two lines across back of stage fac¬ 
ing front, each couple with flags crossed; march up stage to 
front, where those on front line kneel, flags still crossed, and 
those on back line hold flags, with staffs crossed, above heads of 
those on front line. Hold this pose; those on front rise and 
pass up right side of stage, others up left side. Along the 
sides .the girls halt, facing opposite sides of stage; the boys 
go on to corner of stage, quarter-way across back and halt as 
shown in Diagram 3; then all the girls start at same time and 
pass around the boys, the boys holding flags up high, girls 
holding theirs raised and pointing obliquely over head of boy 
around whom each one passes. Pass around boy in a circle 
and return to place at side, the girls who have shorter distance 
to go taking shorter steps, so all w r ill get back to place at same 
time. When girls are in place all face back of stage, pass to 
corners of back, quarter-way across back and down between 









FANCY DRILLS AND MARCHES 


111 


line of boys (Diagram 4). As girls pass them, each boy 
steps beside the girl he was marching with before and they go 
in couples to front; those from the left go to right corner front, 
others to left, up sides and at corners of back, come down and 
halt in a V in couples (Diagram 5) facing front, flags raised 
and staffs crossed; flags at front are held lower than those at 



• • 

• • 

• • 

• • • 
• • 

• t 

• • 

• • 


Diagram 6 


back of lines. Standing thus they sing, to the same tune as 
before: 

Christmas Day we love so well can never merry be, 

’Less this flag in triumph raised o’er all the land we see, 

Christmas cannot merry be unless our flag is free, 

Glorious star-spangled banner. 

Chorus : 

Hurrah, hurrah, the flag that makes us free! 

Hurrah, hurrah, it waves for you and me! 

’Rah for Merry Christmas and the cause of liberty, 

And for our star-spangled banner. 

They now come down to center front in single file, pass to 
right corner down right side, across to center of back, where 
they form couples and stand up center with flags raised to 
form arch. When all are in place the Goddess of Liberty 
enters slowly with large flag held raised in front of her. She 
passes down between lines and halts at front of stage. The 
others face back of stage; first couple goes to right, next to 
left, etc.; pass to corners of back, up sides, and across to center 
of front. When they reach Goddess of Liberty, one member 
of the first couple from right goes to left of her and other to 





112 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


right, then first couple from left passes same way, next couple 
from right, etc. When first couple gets to near center of 
back, halt, all others halting in place behind them; then Liberty 
turns and walks between lines, until she reaches the fourth and 
fifth couples, when they step farther apart and all march three 
couples ahead, three behind, and two beside Liberty (Diagram 
6). They pass thus around stage in a large circle, and when 
they come back to center of back of stage, Liberty comes down 
to center of stage and halts, the others form a circle around 
her with flags raised and pointing up to hers, which is held 
high; then those in circle kneel, facing toward Liberty, all 
looking up at her flag, and sing, to the tune of “Flag of the 
Free:” 


Flag of the brave, long may it wave, 

Chosen of God while His might we adore; 

In Christmas light a glorious sight, 

Symbol of Right through the years passing o’er. 

Pride of our country, honored afar, 

Scatter a cloud that would darken a star, 

Oh, Christmas Day, merry alway, 

While o ’er our country this banner shall sway. 

Those kneeling rise, Liberty leads, all pass in single file, girls 
and boys alternating, and outline four circles (Diagram 7) ; 
then, coming down to near front, they group, with four kneel¬ 



ing in front of Liberty, six standing back of her, six back of 
them, all waving flags while they sing the chorus to the last 
stanza of “Star-Spangled Banner.” Then Liberty leads line 
from the stage. 



FANCY DRILLS AND MARCHES 


113 


CHRISTMAS WREATHS AND GARLANDS 

M. Josephine Moroney 

FOR EIGHT GIRLS 

1. Eight girls of uniform size march in, single file, holding an ever¬ 
green wreath with red streamers in right hand and a garland of evergreen 
suspended from right hand to left. Both hands are slightly raised and 
extended. They swing wreaths and garlands from side to side as they 
march around stage to music of “Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean .” 
To this music they sing stanza of song below. March should be planned 
according to sizre of stage, so that it may be finished at end of stanza, 
when they form straight line across stage, joining hands with one 
another, thus forming a series of festoons with wreaths. 

2. When line is thus formed they sway to music as they sing stanza 2. 
If desired to lengthen, they may sway through an entire stanza of the 
accompaniment. 

3. After swaying through to the end of the accompaniment they march 
off, in same formation as on entering, singing stanza 3. If no curtain 
is used, they may march off the stage; but if there is a curtain it will 
be effective to have them form the straight line at back of stage at end 
of stanza, all bowing at end. 

1. With garlands and wreaths we come bringing 

A story more precious than gold, 

Glad tidings of joy that the angels 
Once sang to the shepherds of old; 

So, ‘ ‘ Glory to God in the highest, 

[Four soprano voices ] 

“And peace to all men upon earth,” 

[Four alto voices ] 

We sing, as we greet you this Christmas, 

The day of the dear Saviour’s birth. 

2. Though we could not see the dear Christ-Child, 

And gaze in His beautiful eyes, 

Yet gladly we join in the chorus 
Of angels come down from the skies. 

So, ‘ ‘ Glory to God in the highest, 

[Four soprano voices ] 

“And peace to all men upon earth,” 

[Four alto voices ] 

We sing, as we greet you this Christmas, 

The day of the dear Saviour’s birth. 


114 


MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


3. Oh, may the dear Babe in the manger 
Bless all with His wonderful love; 

And may every heart, full of gladness, 

Sing praise with the angels above. 

So, “Glory to God in the highest, 

[Four soprano voices] 
“And peace to all men upon, earth/’ 

[Four alto voices] 

We sing, as we greet you this Christmas, 

The day of the dear Saviour’s birth. 


CHRISTMAS STAR DRILL 
Marie Irish 

FOR NINE GIRLS OF THE GRAMMAR GRADES 

. Eight girls dressed in white, with stars cut from gilt paper fastened 
here and there on the skirt and one on each sleeve; a black band around 
the head with a star fastened so that it stands up on head (this star must 
be made double); each carries a star at least ten inches across, made 
double, with a handle of thin wood about eighteen inches long fastened 
between the two sides. Wind handle with gilt or color it with yellow 
drawing crayons. Erom the lower half of star hang five small stars 
(made double) of various sizes and on different length threads, the one 
in center hanging the lowest. The ninth girl dresses like the others but 
carries a larger star with a longer handle (three feet if possible) and 
larger stars hanging from her star. If givfen in the evening, use a dim 
light and then throw bright light on to the various poses for tableau 
effect. 

The eight girls enter very softly and slowly, single file, left 
corner of back, stars held with handle across chest and star on 
left shoulder, pass in diagonal line to center of front, same to 
right corner of back, and form line across back of stage. The 
girls standing at ends of the line come down and halt to form 
point of a V the others follow and take places in order (Dia¬ 
gram 1). Those on right-hand line hold stars in right hand, 
others in left hand, raise them, and hold high, pointing to side 
of stage; those toward back being held higher than those at 
front. 


FANCY DRILLS AND MARCHES 


115 


After holding this pose, the girls at the back swing in, and 
those at front move out to form a A. All face in, and the two 
at apex do not stand close together but leave space between 




and hold stars to form an arch. The other girls all hold stars 
the same, but, as they stand farther apart, the opening between 
their stars will be farther and farther. When all have stars 
raised the ninth girl enters, comes slowly down between the 

# * 

# * 

lines and halts at x, * x * holding her star raised to the 
front. The other girls close into a semicircle back of her and 
hold stars high and pointing toward her. Bright light is 
thrown on to scene. Four girls then go past the ninth girl 
on either side and form couples as they get in front of her. 
Couples go to center of front, right corner, down right side to 
back, across to center of back, where the first couple halts, 
holding stars high to form an arch; the next couple comes 
under and halts just in front, raising stars; other couples the 
same. The ninth girl follows alone at the end of double file up 
the right of stage and, when couples are all standing with stars 
raised high, she passes down between the lines, comes to center 
of stage and kneels, star held high, pointing obliquely upward, 
face up, eyes looking at star. The other girls follow to center; 
first two stand just back and to the side of one kneeling and 
hold stars to form arch just over her head; four girls stand in 
line just back of the three and hold stars to form an arch, cen- 





116 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


# # 

ter two higher than others, thus : * * ; other two girls stand 

back of the four and hold stars pointing up, as high as possible. 
Turn on bright light and hold the pose. 

Ninth girl rises, moves very slowly, walking backward, to 
center of back, where she halts; of the others, four pass her 
on each side, go to the center of front, where four go to right, 
others to left, pass to corners, up sides, and cross to center of 
back, where those from the left go back of the ninth girl and 
halt on her right; those from right go back of her and halt 
on her left (Diagram 2). Stars are held resting on left 
shoulder during this march. Keeping the position just formed, 
the girls advance slowly to almost front of stage and halt, 
raising stars and holding them pointing upward, ninth girl 
holding hers higher than the others. They sing to the tune of 
“Juanita 


From the far heavens 
Brightly gleams thy golden ray, 

Silent reminder 
Of the Christmas Day, 

Shining, brightly shining, 

From thy canopy above, 

Bringing earth a message 
Of good will and love. 

Shine on, Christmas stars, 

Twinkling through the hours of night— 

Shine on, Christmas stars, 

Shed thy golden light. 

On night long by-gone 
Shone the stars o’er Juda’s plain, 

As hosts of angels 
Sang their glad refrain; 

Then from heaven descending 

Bang the angel voices sweet, 

Words the stars bright gleaming 
Now to us repeat. 

Shine on, Christmas stars, 

Twinkling through the hours of night, 

Shine on, Christmas stars, 

Shed thy golden light. 

The girls on left of ninth girl now face right corner of back, 
those on her right face left corner of back; and, going back of 
ninth 'girl, the two files pass in diagonal lines to those corners. 


FANCY DRILLS AND MARCHES 


117 


As soon as last girl has passed her, the ninth girl walks slowly 
backward to the center of back of stage and halts. The files 
pass to corners, then across to center of back; first girl from 
right comes down and kneels a few feet in front of ninth girl, 
who has reached position at center of back; two girls from left 
and one from right stand back of girl kneeling; last two on 
each file stand back of the three; ninth girl is just back of 
these four; all raise stars and hold them with right arm curved 
over top of head, small stars hanging down almost to left shoul¬ 
der (Diagram 3). Turn on bright light and hold pose. 


• • 

• • • 
• • 


Diagram 3 

Kneeling girl rises, ninth girl comes down cbnter, and others 
follow her in couples—same order as on entering—pass to 
center front, right corner of front, diagonally to center of 
back, diagonally to left corner front, down left side, across to 
center of back, where ninth girl halts, others form a semicircle 
back of her; and, keeping this position, all come down to near 
front, where they halt. During this march stars are held 
against left shoulder. At front ninth girl kneels, holding star 
somewhat forward and to left of face; others hold stars close 
together and to form an arch above head of one kneeling, the 
two end girls kneeling so as to hold stars low. They sing to the 
tune of ‘ ‘ Long, Long Ago: ’ ’ 

If every star shining with golden ray, 

Shining for you, shining for me; 

To us at Christmas a message could say, 

What a great message ’twould be! 

If every star with melodious voice, 

Could bid all people be glad and rejoice, 

Message from heaven, we ’d make it our choice, 

How merry Christmas would be! 




118 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


Kneeling girls rise, four pass single file, then ninth girl, then 
the other four, all holding stars above heads, ninth girl hold¬ 
ing hers higher than the others. Pass to left corner, all single 
file, diagonal line from left corner front to right corner back, 
across back of stage, in diagonal line from left corner of back 
to right corner of front, up right side and across to center of 
back, where they form a group—two girls in front of ninth 
girl, two beside her, four standing close behind; all raise stars 
and hold them in a group, then keeping this position pass to 
near front, halt and sing, as bright light is thrown on scene, to 
the tune of “Jingle, Bells 

Within our homes the lights 
Are shining clear and bright, 

And cozy rooms shut out 

The frost and cold of night; 

Anxious throngs await 

The dawn of Christmas Day, 

And over all the Christmas stars 
Shine on with golden ray. 

Christmas stars, Christmas stars, 

Shining bright and clear, 

May a Christmas-loving world 
s Now thy silent message hear; 

Christmas stars, Christmas stars, 

Shining clear and bright, 

May thy silent message bless 

All the world on Christmas night. 

Ninth girl moves slowly backward to center of stage, while 
the others pass in single file up left side of stage, across to 
center of back, then down to ninth girl, and stand about her in 
a circle. She holds her star high; they all raise stars and 
march about her in a circle twice from left to right, twice 
from right to left and sing the words again of the last stanza 
and chorus. They then form double file in front of ninth girl, 
each couple standing with stars raised to form an arch through 
which she passes, going to center of front, to right corner of 
front, up the side, the others following in couples, and exeunt 
at right corner of back. 


MOTION SONGS AND ACROSTICS 


THE CHRISTMAS TREE 
Marie Irish 

MOTION SONG FOR TEN OR MORE CHILDREN OF THE PRIMARY 
GRADES 

Tune : The Blue-Bells of Scotland 

1. We ’re looking, we ’re looking 
A certain tree to find; 

[Shade eyes with right hand, look off at right, then turn 
and look off at the left.] 

Can you, or you, tell us 
Where that tree we can find ? 

[On first “you” point with right hand to persons at right 
of audience; on second “you” point with left hand 
to persons sitting on left side of audience.] 

’T is sometimes straight and tall, 

[ With right hand paint as to top of tall tree.] 

And sometimes’t is round and small; 

[Bring hands together as if reaching around a tree; raise 
right hand to show height of a short tree.] 

But it’s this is the tree 
Children love the best of all. 

[Bring hands together at center of breast, face smiling 
happily.] 

2. We’ll march to the left and 
We ’ll march unto the right; 

[Turn quickly to face left, and take four short steps to 
the left; face about quickly, and take four short 
steps to the right; then face front.] 

119 


120 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


For that tree we ’ll hunt 
Till of it we get a sight; 

[Shade eyes with right hand, look to right and to left.} 

Upon this tree you ’ll find 
Dolls to rock and candies sweet, 

[Both hands extended to the front, sway from side to side 
as if rocking a dolly; then hold right hand to lips 
and pretend to eat candy.} 

Horns to blow, guns to shoot, 

Rings of gold and drums to beat. 

[Both hands held up to mouth, one in front of the other 
as if holding a horn; both hands out as if aiming a 
gun; pound one hand on the palm of the other for 
beating a drum.] 

3. Can you, can you guess 

What this certain tree may be, 

[Point to part of audience with right hand, then with lef t 
hand to others.] 

Where lion and lamb on 
The same branch you can see? 

[Point with right hand as if up to branch of tree.] 

It is the Christmas tree, 

And around it in a ring, 

We ’ll dance and we ’ll dance, 

As our merry songs we sing. 

[All quickly form a circle, join hands and skip around 
merrily in a ring. Then all turn and dance around 
again, going in the opposite direction. Repeat the 
music of these last four lines and continue dancing in 
a circle while singing :] 

We love the Christmas tree, 

And around it in a ring, 

We ’ll dance and we ’ll dance, 

As our merry songs we sing. 


MOTION SONGS AND ACROSTICS 


121 


CHRISTMAS TIME IS NEAR 

AN ACTION SONG FOR ANY NUMBER OF CHILDREN OF THE 
PRIMARY GRADES 

Tune : London Bridge 

Christmas snow is falling, 

Falling, falling, 

Christmas snow is falling, 

For Christmas time is near. 

[Arms raised above head, lowered slowly forward, arms 
and fingers fluttering to imitate falling of snow.] 

The reindeer feet are dancing, 

Dancing, dancing, 

The reindeer feet are dancing, 

For Christmas time is near. 

[Both hands out on level with elbow, palms down, and 
fingers lightly curved. Hands make rapid pawing 
motion. Bun in place.] 

The Christmas stocking’s swinging, 

Swinging, swinging, 

The Christmas stocking’s swinging, 

For Christmas time is near. 

[Both hands swayed, pendulum-fashion, palms inward.] 
The Christmas tree is laden, 

Laden, laden, 

The Christmas tree is laden, 

For Christmas time is near. 

[Both arms stretched out at sides away from the body, to 
represent drooping branches of a Christmas tree. 
Palms flat, down , and held at about the level of the 
hips.] 

Old Santa’s friends are listening, 

Listening, listening, 

Old Santa’s friends are listening, 

For Christmas time is near. 

[Left hand held cup-fashion behind left ear as if listening. 
Bodies bent forward and to the left. Heads turned 
to the right. At second “listening,” alternate with 


122 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


right hand behind right ear, bodies bent forward 
and to the left, heads turned to the right. At third 
“listening,” resume first position and hold it for 
remainder of verse.] 

But soon they all are sleeping, 

Sleeping, sleeping, 

But soon they all are sleeping, 

For Christmas time is near. 

[All bend slightly from the hips, bending forward and 
to the left. Bend the head to the left and rest it on 
the left palm. Close eyes and sway bodies slightly.] 
Now Christmas bells are ringing, 

Ringing, ringing, 

Now Christmas bells are ringing, 

For Christmas Day is here! 

[All clasp hands and s.wing hands freely forward and 
back, like the clapper of a bell. Voice, face and body 
should express joy and animation. Children dance 
off the stage still holding one another’s hands and 
swinging arms back and forth. 

Note: Teach this little song as a relaxation exercise. Use it when the 
little folks are restless. Children love to dramatize the Christmas idea. 
The song may then be given as a part of the Christmas program. 

School Education 


CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS 
Marie Irish 

MOTION SONG FOR A NUMBER OF BOYS 

Tune: Yankee Doodle 

The Christmas Day is coming fast, 

It sets us all a-tingle; 

[Wave hands at sides and jump about from one foot to 
the other.] 

If you just listen p ’rhaps you ’ll hear 
[Bend forward, hand to right ear as if listening.] 
Old Santa’s sleigh bells jingle. 


MOTION SONGS AND ACROSTICS 


123 


Chorus : 

Santa is a good old soul, 

[Nod head in affirmation.] 

But it ’s awful shocking 
[Shake head sadly.] 

All the presents it must take 
To fill each Christmas stocking. 

[During last two lines hold left hand out from body and 
bring right hand up and down from the right side, 
touching left hand each time as if taking gifts from 
a bag and putting them into a stocking.] 

I think to get ’em all around 
[Hands extended out at each side, arm’s length.] 

’T would take a dozen long trips, 

Even though he had ’em piled in 
Forty- ’leven airships. 

[Right hand raised high and moved along as if following 
the course of an airship.] 

Chorus 

The babies don’t need very much, 

Their stockings are so tiny, 

[Hands held forward to measure a tiny stocking.] 

And they will be quite satisfied 
With just a rattle shiny. 

[Shake right hand as if holding rattle.] 

Chorus 

Why should the girls think Santa Claus 
Must bring a great lot to ’em? 

[Hands out in front as if holding big armful of bundles.] 
To fill a stocking of this size 
[Hold hands to measure stocking about three-fourths of 
a yard long.] 

It surely ought to do ’em. 

[Nod head emphatically.] 


Chorus 


124 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


But as for boys it takes so much 
[Each boy points to himself, touching hand to breast.] 

To give us Christmas pleasure, 

To satisfy our wants requires 
A stocking of this measure. 

[Each boy pulls from his pocket and holds up to view a 
cloth stocking at least three feet long. These can be 
made of any old cloth and should be of various colors. 
Boys hold them ivith both hands at each side of top.] 

Chorus 


. JOHN GRIN AND JOE GROUCH 
Marie Irish 

HUMOROUS ACTION SONG FOR ANY EVEN NUMBER OF BOYS 

Tune : Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean 
John Grin was a happy young fellow, 

[Put hands on hips and grin at one another.] 
Good-natured and merry was he; 

[Rub hands together and grin at audience.] 
Whatever befell you could tell, oh, 

That Johnnie contented would be. 

[Singers look at one another, motion with hands and nod 
heads as if saying, t( That’s all right.”] 

He loved the stormy days and sunny, 

[Look off at sides and up toward sky as if viewing the 
weather.] 

He loved the spring and the fall; 

In winter he said it was funny, 

[Bend forward and shake finger impressively at audience.] 
But Christmas he loved best of all. 

[Bring right hand down on to left with a slap and nod 
head.] 

He loved Christmas Day, oh, ho, ho! 

He loved it in rain, shine, or snow, 


MOTION SONGS AND ACROSTICS 


125 


His greeting he’d shout with a will, oh, 

He’d shout “Merry Christmas” just so. 

[Call out “Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!” to the 
audience, smiling as broadly as possible and yelling 
it in the heartiest manner. ] 

Joe Grouch was a surly old growler, 

[Draw down' face and look as cross as possible.] 
Complaining with all of his might, 

[Scowl and shake head sadly .] 

He sure was a sad-visaged scowler, 

[Look from one to the other, sigh, and shake head.] 

The world never suited him right. 

[Draw face down long, look cross, clasp fingers and twirl 
thumbs.] 

In Christmas he did not believe, 

[Point finger at audience, shaking it slowly and scowling.] 
No gifts he would give or receive, 

[Extend both hands out at sides, clasp arms on breast.] 
He said he never could see-ee 

[Draw the last word out mournfully.] 

Why Christmas Day merry should be. 

[Frown and shake head.] 

He scorned Christmas Day, oh, ho, ho ! 

He scorned it in rain, shine, or snow, 

His greeting he’d sigh with a scowl, oh, 

He’d sigh “Merry Christmas” just so. 

[Call out “Merry Christmas!” just once to the audience 
in the most mournful manner, scowling heavily, 
hands folded primly.] 

Now, my good friends, be merry and cheery, 

[Bend forward and shake finger at audience.] 

A lesson from Joe you may learn: 

[Draw face) down long and sigh.] 

Do not let your Christmas be dreary, 

But blessings and pleasures discern. 

[Hands on hips, look about from side to side and smile.] 


126 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


Just smile, and your neighbor will smile, oh, 

[Look at one another and smile broadly.] 

Give aid to the needy and sad; 

[Put right hand in pocket and bring it out, extending for¬ 
ward as if to give.] 

A cheery greeting is worth while, oh, 

There’s someone for you to make glad. 

[Point with right hand to some person in audience.] 
You ’ll love Christmas Day, oh, ho, ho ! 

You 11 love it in rain, shine or snow. 

[Nod head emphatically.] 

Your greeting just shout with a will, oh, 

Call out “Merry Christmas” just so. 

[Each two turn to face, smile, shake hands heartily and 
say “Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas. r> with 
great enthusiasm.] 


CHRISTMAS 

AN ACROSTIC FOR NINE CHILDREN 

Each child should carry a large letter, keeping it out of view until 
ready to speak the lines it represents. 

Come and hear what we can say: 

I am for C for Christmas Day. 

H is for the happy boy, 

And I wish you all much joy. 

R must ring the Christmas chime, 

Jingle, jangle all the time. 

I am I, as you can see, 

If I tried, who else could I be ? 

S means Santa Claus so jolly, 

He’s the one that brought my dolly. 


MOTION SONGS AND ACROSTICS 127 

T is tree that vigil kept 
Christmas Eve, while others slept. 

M is merry, so they say, 

What all should be on Christmas Day. 

A—what was it I was told? 

A means all, both young and old. 

S is the song the shepherds heard 
When all the waiting air was stirred. 

Two [in unison] : 

Hark! the angels’ chant is still: 

On earth peace, toward men good will. 

All [joining hands] : 

Now be merry, with good cheer; 

Christmas comes but once a year. 


CHRISTMAS MORN 

AN ACROSTIC FOR THIRTEEN CHILDREN 

Monira F. McIntosh 

Each child holds a letter covered with gilt paper or holly. Teach each 

reciter to emphasize the two rhyme-words in his line. 

Christ in Bethlehem was born, long ago on Christmas morn. 

Herald angels sweetly sang; 44 Peace on earth,” the chorus 
rang. 

Roused the shepherds from their sleep, as they lay among the 
sheep. 

In the heavens a wondrous star led the wise men from afar, 

Safely o’er the desert wild, till they reached the Holy Child. 

There the new-born Baby lay, cradled in the fragrant hay. 

Mary, kneeling by his side, watched Him with a mother’s 
pride. 


128 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


All about Him stood the kine, gazing on the Babe divine, 
Sleeping in the lowly manger, safely guarded from all danger. 

Many a year has passed away, since that first glad Christmas 
Day, 

Over all the earth is told those glad tidings, sung of old. 

Ring the bells with joy to-day! Sing the Christmas carols gay! 
Ne’er forget that holy morn, when the Prince of Peace was 
born! 


MERRY CHRISTMAS 
Mary E. Jackson 

AN ACROSTIC FOR FOURTEEN CHILDREN 

Each child recites one line, holding in his hand a card on which is 
printed the letter with which his line begins. 


Merry glad Christmas is here once again. 

Each Christmas carol bids “Good will to men.” 

Red are the berries, and green is the tree, 

Rich are the presents for you and for me. 

Yule logs are blazing; then ope wide the door. 

Christ gave his love to the rich and the poor. 

Hang up the stockings, a dangling row. 

Ring out the glad bells across the white snow. 

In the still hours, list, girls, and list, boys! 

Santa Claus comes with his sleighful of toys! 

Take your full stockings but think ere you play 
Many a poor child has no Christmas Day. 

And with this sharing, this ‘ ‘ Good will to men! ’ ’ 
Singing, we welcome glad Christmas again. 

Normal Instructor and Primary Plans 


TABLEAUX 


A VISION OF THE PAST 
Marie Irish 

Young lady dressed as a grandmother with white hair, 
spectacles, small black lace cap, black gown with white neck¬ 
erchief and white cuffs, sits in an easy chair with a book in 
her hand, gazing off into space. To one side of her, and 
farther back on the stage, where they will be in a dim light, 
two little girls, with flowing hair, tiny white nightcaps, long 
white nightgowns, and bare feet, stand, each holding an old- 
fashioned doll on one arm and in the other hand a long stock¬ 
ing stuffed full of Christmas presents. Girls smile at dolls in 
happy manner. If it can be arranged, a better effect is gained 
by having girls stand back of black mosquito netting to dim 
the view. The following lines are read as light is thrown upon 
the scene: 

Christmas for the aged is a time of memories; 

In reminiscing mood thoughts backward flow, 

Living once again the scenes of years gone by, 

Seeing in dreams the friends of long ago. 

Grandmother’s favorite Christmas vision 
Is of her girls in the early morning chill 
Slipping from their beds to merrily discover 
The gifts so wonderful that their stockings fill. 


LIBERTY’S TOKEN 
Marie Irish 

A daintily-dressed little boy and girl stand side by side, 
holding a little in front of them a large wreath of holly or 
evergreen, tied at one side with bow of red ribbon or crepe 
paper. Each child holds the wreath with one hand and with 
the other holds several Christmas presents. Just back of the 


130 JVTx^RRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


rvinildren stands a young lady dressed as the Goddess of 
Liberty, flowing hair, white gown, crown, sash and trimmings 
of red, white, and blue. She holds a good-sized flag and gazes 
lovingly at the children as these words are read: 

There can be no joy at Christmas time, 

No bells to merrily ring, 

No happy children gathering 
Their Christmas carols to sing; 

There can be no joy at Christmas time, 

No peace and glad good will, 

Unless the flag of Liberty 
Is floating o’er us still. 

Oh, blessed banner of the free, 

Forever may it wave, 

At Christmas time and every time, 

Over all the true and brave. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS 

Marie Irish 

Hang the background with black or dark cloth; in front of 
this fasten two boards so they stand upright at least five feet 
and about four feet apart; at the top, connecting them, nail an 
arch cut from cardboard, pasteboard, or light wood; cover 
arch and boards with green cloth or paper; from the center 
of the arch suspend a red bell* and from point where the bell 
is fastened run five red streamers which reach almost to the 
floor—the loose end of each streamer being held by a child. 
At center of arch and slightly back of it stands a boy dressed 
as Santa Claus, smiling at the children as he bends somewhat 
forward and vratches them; in line with Santa, but several 
feet in front of him, stands a tiny girl in white with flowing 
curls, holding on one arm a large dolly and in the other hand 
an end of a streamer from the bell; on either side of her, but 
somewhat back of her, stand two larger girls in white, each 
holding in one hand an end of a streamer, and in the other 
hand a red bell fastened to a stick wound with green paper; 
in front of each board which supports the arch stands a boy. 
somewhat back of the last-mentioned girls, each holding an 
end of a streamer in one hand and in the other hand a bunch of 
Christmas greens, holly, or evergreen. On the arch fasten the 


TABLEAUX 


131 


letters “Merry Christmas” cut from white paper. Bright 
light is thrown upon the scene and these lines are read by some¬ 
one off stage: 

Oh, the merry, merry Christmas Day, 

When all the world is young and jolly; 

When the bells ring sweet and clear, 

And our homes are gay with holly; 

When Christmas love is in the air, 

And hearts forget their care. 

Oh, the merry, merry Christmas Day, 

When East and West are meeting; 

And from the Northland to the South 
There rings the Yuletide greeting; 

When Christmas love is in the air, 

And hearts forget their care. 


THE CHRISTMAS STAR 

Marie Irish 

A young lady in long white robe, flowing hair, band of gilt 
around her head, arms exposed, and wings made of white cloth 
or crepe paper, stands upon a pedestal covered with black. 
The background back of her should also be covered with black 
or dark cloth. In her right hand, which is raised and extended 
upward arm’s length, she holds a fine wire, to the other end of 
which is fastened a gilt star. Have the wire about a yard 
long and just heavy enough to support the star without bend¬ 
ing. The young lady is gazing up at the star and should 
present a semi-profile view. The following lines are read as 
the light is thrown upon the scene: 

Oh, Christmas star, whose bright light shone 
O’er Palestine’s dark hills and plain, 

Guiding the wise men from the East 
While angels sang their glad refrain; 

* 1 Glory to God, ’ ’ the words rang out 
With melody sweet and clear, 

“Peace on earth, good will to men,” 

Were the songs the shepherds heard. 

Oh, Christmas star, with heavenly ray, 

Brighten the world with thy light; 

Shine while the Christmas spirit glows 
And grows with increasing might. 


132 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


A CHRISTMAS GARLAND 

TABLEAUX REPRESENTING TRADITIONAL FIGURES OF CHRISTMAS 

Nora Archibald Smith 

The drop-curtain for this series of tableaux represents the cover of 
a Christmas gift-book. It is made of gold-colored or green material 
(cambric will serve), and an immense wreath of holly, mistletoe, and 
evergreen, tied with red ribbons or crepe paper, hangs in the center. 
The material is cut out behind this wreath, all but a hinge at the top, 
and the flap is lifted up when the pictures are shown. The size of 
the wreath must of course be adapted to the stage, but as some of the 
tableaux contain several figures it should be as large as possible. It 
may hang within a few feet of the floor, the tableaux being posed on a 
low platform behind it. 


I ST. NICHOLAS 

Saint Nicholas, the reverend, 

Comes as the orphan maidens ’ friend, 

And leaves without their cottage door 
A marriage portion from his store. 

The children’s saint and hero he, 

All meekness and humility. 

The tableau represents St. Nicholas in his traditional dress 
as Bishop of Myra. He has long white hair, ruddy cheeks, a 
white beard, and a long, full gown of a dark color. He wears 
a mitre, and carries a crosier or pastoral staff, while a basket 
loaded with packages hangs on his arm. (Pictures of mitres 
and crosiers may be found in any dictionary.) The mitre, a 
tall, tongue-shaped cap, terminating in two points, may be 
made of pasteboard and covered with gilt tissue or paper, 
gold cloth or yellow chiffon, and studded with colored beads 
to represent jewels. The crosier should be a staff about five 
feet long, gilt, richly ornamented, and terminating either in a 
Maltese cross (crosier of ceremony) or a crook. The basket is 
supposed to be the celebrated one in which the kindly Bishop 
bore the wedding gifts for the three destitute maidens. 

Note: The lines accompanying the tableau are to be recited while 
each is being shown—or to precede them, if desired. 


TABLEAUX 


133 


II LA DAME DE NOEL 

(The Christmas Lady) 

The Christmas Lady, far in France, 

Doth with the Christmas tree advance, 

And bears it swift, and bears it far, 

To all who bless the Christmas star. 

This traditional French figure, the bearer of the Christmas 
tree, should be as beautiful as humanly possible in an alJ- 
too-plain world. She is young, fair, and has long, floating 
hair. She is clothed in white drapery and a long, transparent 
white veil floats over her head and face. On her head is a 
golden crown, set round with tapers; but these would best be 
simulated, or furnished with flames of orange-colored paper, 
unless electric lights can be procured. The Lady of Christmas 
bears aloft a tiny Christmas tree, decked in full pomp. 

Ill HANS TRAPP 

Now all ye children, great and small, 

Lend an attentive ear, 

For lo! the Bugbear comes to find 
How ye have spent the year. 

Hans Trapp is the traditional German bugbear who visits 
all households before the coming of the Christ-Child, .and finds 
out in advance whether the children are to be punished or 
rewarded. He may be as monstrous as the Christmas Lady 
was beautiful. He is always dressed in furs, has one shoulder 
higher than the other, and either wears a beast’s head, a false 
face, or has his own grotesquely painted. He carries a bell 
in one hand, and under his arm an immense bunch of rods. 

IV BABOUSCKA 

Babouscka, wrinkled, old, and gray, 

Is she who scorned to show the way 
To those who sought—the Three Wise Men— 

The road to blessed Bethlehem. 

Babouscka is the old Russian woman of tradition who re¬ 
fused to show the three kings the way to Bethlehem, and who 
has been doomed to wander forever to find the Christ-Child. 


134 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


She is old, bent, and bowed, is enveloped in a long, gray cloak, 
the hood slipping from her white hair, leans upon a staff, and 
carries a basket full of toys on her arm. Some one capable 
of considerable facial expression should take the part, and 
give the idea of one who has sinned, is unhappy, and seeks 
forgiveness. 

V THE CHRISTMAS WAITS 

’T is break of day, and from the East 
The light begins to pour; 

We’ve trudged and sung this many a mile, 

And stopped at many a door. 

We pray ye, kindly householders, 

Some silver for our pains, 

For at the blessed Christmastide 
Each man should share his gains. 

Christmas carols were sung from door to door in England 
as early as the fifteenth century, so any quaint old English 
costumes are suitable for the Christmas Waits. A group 
of boys or men in smock frocks, bright woolen comforters 
tied about their necks, and old felt hats pulled down over 
their heads, would be effective. Some of the singers should 
be stout and old, and some lean on their staves. They may 
carry instruments—a bass viol, a flute, etc., if desired. If 
wigs are used, the hair of the English rustics in early times 
was usually cut square over the forehead and worn rather 
long and loose in the neck. Lanterns of antique pattern may 
be carried, if any can be found or made, and one of the 
carollers, with a plaintive look, holds up a box for coins to an 
imaginary window. The lights should be lowered, as it is 
break of day, and the tableau illuminated by the lanterns. 
The Waits may sing, if desired, or be accompanied by a carol 
from the wings. 


VI JACK HORNER 

See, here is Jack Horner, 
Plucked out of his corner, 

And eating his Christmas pie. 
What strange jubilation, 

What over-elation, 

He seems to evince in his cry! 


TABLEAUX 


135 


Jack Horner should be a plump and rosy little fellow, 
attired in any picturesque costume, preferably white, pale 
blue, or scarlet. A Peter Pan suit or a Kate Greenaway 
smock frock is suitable, with an appropriate cap, which may 
be a baker’s cap, fashioned from white paper. Jack Horner 
holds an immense pie, made in the largest yellow bowl (or tin 
pan) to be had, and covered with brown paper to imitate 
pastry.. A hole is seen in the crust, and the boy holds his 
prize high, looking up toward it exultantly. An expressive 
child-face is needed for this picture. 


VII BOB CRATCHIT AND TINY TIM 

Bob Cratchit comes, with Tiny Tim 
Upon his shoulder riding; 

A humble pair but Christmas cheer 
Within their hearts abiding. 

*T was Tim, who, at the Christmas feast, 

When all the cheer was done, 

Cried out with thin and piping voice, 

‘ 1 God bless us, every one ! 7 7 

In Dickens’ “Christmas Carol,” Bob Cratchit is described 
as a small man, “dressed in threadbare clothes, with at least 
three feet of comforter, exclusive of the fringe, hanging down 
before him.” The story is early Victorian in date, so Cratchit 
may wear a high collar and stock and an old-fashioned coat 
of the proper date. A shabby, old-fashioned silk hat is on 
his head, and his comforter (red or blue) is hanging about 
his neck, but not wrapped around, lest his collar be hidden. 
He is shown as he came home from church to the Christmas 
dinner, bringing Tiny Tim upon his shoulder. The child 
should be a very small and delicate one, of pale and spiritual 
face. (If any one can be found expert in preparing faces for 
the stage, both father and son should be made rather pale and 
meager, and the child should have dark shadows under the 
eyes.) The child’s clothing is of no moment, for it is hardly 
seen as he perches on his father’s shoulder; but the posing 
and lighting must be carefully done, so that he, as principal 
figure, may stand out well in the picture. 


136 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


VIII CAROL OF THE CRUTCHES 

This was the sweetest Carol was ever sung or said, 

And children clustered at her side and gathered round her bed. 

On Christmas Day she came to earth, a mortal child, and then 
The angels took her willing hands and led her back again. 

This tableau is posed from the cover picture of Mrs. Wig¬ 
gins’ “Birds’ Christmas Carol.” Carol, a girl of twelve or 
thirteen years, sits in a great armchair, pillows behind her, 
and a covering of some sort (preferably a pale blue afghan 
or blanket), thrown over her knees. She wears a soft white 
or pale pink gown, and her long hair is unbound and falls 
loose over her shoulders. Her hands rest on the arms of the 
chair, and in the bend of her right arm she holds her crutches. 
The back of the chair should be high enough to serve as a 
background for her head, and should be dark in tone. A 
small table covered with a white cloth, and holding books and 
a vase of holly, stands by her side. The light, as in the 
previous picture, should be centered on her head. 

IX SANTA CLAUS 

What shall we say of Santa Claus, 

So near to us, so dear to us? 

What shall we say of Santa Claus, 

So dear to us forever? 

Why, nothing say, but * ‘ Hip hooray! ’ , 

So near he is, so dear he is; 

Why, nothing say, but 11 Hip hooray! ’ ’ 

And cheer his name forever. 

The traditional figure of Santa Claus, as he may be seen 
in innumerable pictures, now appears within the Garland. 

Popular Educator 


PANTOMIMED SONGS AND PANTOMIMES 


SILENT NIGHT 
Marie Irish 

The thought is expressed in gestures by several actors upon the stage, 
while the words are read or sung by one or more persons either behind 
the scenes or at the front and to one side of the stage. 

Song is pantomimed by four or more girls or young ladies, while words 
are sung by one or more voices. 

1. Silent night! 

[Left hand hanging at side, right hand, fingers slightly curved, 
palm to the front, raised to about height of cheek and 
held eight inches from side of face.] 

Holy night! 

[Hands clasped at center of breast, head bowed reverently.] 
All is calm, 

[Continue above pose.] 
all is bright! 

[Still hold hands clasped, but raise head and look heaven¬ 
ward.] 

Round yon virgin mother and Child! 

Holy Infant, so tender and mild, 

[Left hand down at side, body inclined slightly forward, right 
hand, palm up { extended to the front, pointing; expres¬ 
sion of face as if looking at vision.] 

Sleep in heavenly peace, 

[Hands together, palms touching, head inclined to the left, 
and left cheek resting against hands,, eyes closed.] 

Sleep in heavenly peace. 

[Hands still against left cheek, eyes closed, head bowed to the 
front, shoulders slightly drooping.] 

137 


138 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


2. Silent night! Holy night! 

[Same poses as in first stanza.] 

Shepherds quake at the sight! 

[Step back with right foot, left hand down and out at left side; 
right hand raised to center of breast; eyes looking up, 
expression of fear on face.] 

Glories stream from heaven afar, 

[Right hand raised, pointing obliquely upward, face raised, 
eyes looking up.] 

Heav’nly hosts sing Alleluia, 

[Both hands raised, arms’ length, pointing obliquely upward , 
eyes looking up.] 

Christ the Saviour is bom, 

[Step forward with right foot, incline body forward, gaze fo'r- 
ward with rapt expression.] 

Christ the Saviour is born! 

[Body inclined slightly more to the front, expression as be¬ 
fore, right hand forward, palm up, as if pointing to 
mother and Child. At close bring right foot back into line 
ready for next stanza.] 

3. Silent night! Holy night! 

[Same poses as in the first stanza.] 

Son of God, love’s pure light, 

[Hands still clasped at breast, eyes looking upward.] 
Radiant beams from Thy holy face, 

[Right hand upraised heavenward, eyes following hand.] 
With the dawn of redeeming grace, 

[Eyes still looking upward, step back with right foot, hands 
extended out at sides, somewhat in front of body, palms 
upward.] 

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, 

[Kneel on right knee, hands clasped at center of breast, eyes 
upraised. Do not kneel in a straight ** line, those at ends 
step forward to form curve, thus: * *] 

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. 

[Still kneeling, hands clasped as before, bow head reverently.] 


PANTOMIMED SONGS AND PANTOMIMES 139 


0 LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM 
Marie Irish 

To be pantomimed by four or more girls as the words are either read 

or sung off stage. 

1. 0 little town of Bethlehem! 

How still we see thee lie; 

[Stand three feet apart; left hand down and out slightly at 
side; right hand raised to height of forehead and held out 
from face about a foot, eyes looking under hand, which is 
held palm down . Body should he bent slightly forward.] 
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, 

The silent stars go by. 

[ Right hand raised arm’s length, pointing toward the left, then 
moved slowly along, pointing upward, until hand is point¬ 
ing off at the right, eyes following hand as it moves.] 

Yet, in thy dark street shineth 
The everlasting Light; 

[Right hand down at side, body inclined forward, left hand 
raised breast-high, palm up, and held out to the front, 
eyes looking forward as if at light.] 

The hopes and fears of all the years. 

[Step slightly back with the right foot, body inclined back¬ 
ward, each hand extended out at sides, arm’s length.] 

Are met in thee, to-night. 

[Walk quickly forward, three steps, coming as close together 
as they can stand as they meet in line; drop hands to sides 
as the start is made, then bring them up, waist high, point¬ 
ing out. to the front, palms up, hands about six inches 
apart as the stop is made.] 

2. How silently, how silently, 

The wondrous gift is given! 

[During a short interlude between first and second stanzas the 
actors move apart and stand in two lines, thus: ** 

As words of second stanza begin, those on the * * 

right-hand line raise left hand, those on the * * 


140 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


left-hand line raise right hand to height of shoulder, hold¬ 
ing hand as if motioning for silence, with palm to the 
front, hand slightly in advance of body, head inclined 
slightly forward and leaned toward side on which hand is 
raised.] 

So God imparts to human hearts 

[Those on right-hand line raise right hand, others raise the 
left, pointing heavenward, eyes looking upward.] 

The blessings of His heaven. 

[The hand which was raised is brought down and laid over the 
heart; the other hand is doum at side and slightly out 
from body, eyes still looking upward.] 

No ear may hear His coming. 

[Those on right-hand line step slightly forward with right foot, 
incline body forward, raise right hand and hold it, palm 
to the front, near ear, as if listening; those on left line 
step forward with left foot; raise left hand.] 

But in this world of sin, 

[Bring foot back to place; stand upright, hands extended at 
each side nearly arm’s length.] 

When meek souls will receive Him still, 

The dear Christ enters in. 

[Slowly bring hands together until they are touching over 
heart.] 

3. Oh, holy Child of Bethlehem ! 

Descend to us, we pray; 

[During the interlude between second and third 

stanzas the actors arrange themselves in a * 

diagmal line along the stage, thus: * 

As third stanza begins extend hands forward, * 
palms up, the right hand held higher than the * 
left , eyes looking upward.] * 

Cast out our sin and enter in; 

[Hands brought together at center of breast, then moved out 
at each side, palms down, till they are almost at arm’s 
length.] 

Be born in us to-day. 

[Hands slowly dropped to sides, face raised, eyes looking up.] 


PANTOMIMED SONGS AND PANTOMIMES 141 


We hear the Christmas angels 
The great glad tidings tell; 

[Step forward with right foot, body inclined forward, happy 
expression on upturned face, right hand raised to near 
right ear to catch sound.] 

Oh, come to us, abide with us, 

Our Lord Emmanuel. 

[With body still inclined forward and eyes raised, raise both 
hands in pleading manner, right hand held someivhat 
higher than the left, which should be about height of top 

of head.] 


CHRISTMAS EVE CURIOSITY 
Marie Irish 

[To be acted by four little maids as the lines are read. Each 
girl wears long white nightgown, white stockings, and no 
shoes, little white nightcap, hair curled and flying around 
face. At back of stage arrange a fireplace—strips of 
building paper or thin boards will do—to which four 
stockings can be hung.] 

The stockings are hung by the chimney 
All ready for Santa to pack 

[Enter the four girls and stand profile vieiv looking at the 
stockings, each with a hand pointing toward them.] 
Brim-full from the toe to the top, 

Prom his generous Christmas s^tck. 

’T is time all the children were safely 
In warm, cozy beds tucked away, 

[Girls turn to face audience and rub eyes sleepily.] 
There to dream of wonderful presents 
They should find at the break of day. 

[Yawn and nod heads, eyes closing.] 


142 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


But these winsome wee naughty maidens 
From their beds decided to creep, 

[All move forward stealthily toward front of stage.] 

To know if their stockings hung safely, 

[Turn he'ads and look hack over right shoulder at stockings.] 
Before they should drop off to sleep. 

They wondered if the old chimney flue 
[ Girls move back to fireplace, get down on knees and peep up 
the flue, nodding heads at each other as if talking.] 

Were wide and clean, and safe and right, 

So Santa could easily get down it, 

And not get wedged in fast and tight. 

Then these maidens began to worry 
[ They rise, come forward, and stand in group, looking 
anxiously from one to another, and shaking heads doubt¬ 
fully.] 

Whether Santa Claus really knew 
That Bess wished a dolly with brown eyes, 

While Nellie and Kate wanted blue. 

And then their eyes sleepily drooped, 

[Close eyes and yawn.] 

While nid-nod went each little head, 

[Heads droop lower and lower.] 

So they kissed each other good-night 
[Each couple kisses.] 

And scampered aw r ay to their bed. 

[Run off with quick short little steps.] 


PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS 
Marie Irish 

To be pantomimed by five girls and four boys as the words are read 
off the stage. 

One girl dresses as grandmother; white hair, spectacles, black gown 
with white cuffs and neckerchief, and tiny black lace cap; one girl as 
the mother, with hair done up, long gown, big apron; one girl as a 
young lady wearing long skirt, small white apron, fancy dusting cap; 


PANTOMIMED SONGS AND PANTOMIMES 143 


one as young lady in fancy light evening gown, bright ribbons, hair 
done high, etc. Esther is taken by a little girl in short everyday dress. 
One boy dresses as grandfather, hair powdered, whiskers made of rope 
or white crepe paper, long-tailed coat, etc.; another dresses as young 
man, hair very sleek, mustache, large necktie; two boys with greens have 
everyday clothes. 

At center of back have a small stand on which the mother can stir her 
cakes; on it should be a bowl, large spoon, flour sieve, cup, and box of 
spice. In front and to either side of this stand have easy chairs for 
Grandfather and Grandmother. In front of them and at center of 
stage have suspended a small bunch of mistletoe. (If it cannot be 
secured, make a little by cutting light green paper leaves and fastening 
them in a bunch with small white berries made of wax or gum.) 

[As curtain rises Grandmother sits sewing and Grandfather 
stringing popcorn; they continue this during all the pan¬ 
tomime.] 

The Christmas spirit is in the air, 

Christmas secrets are everywhere, 

Everybody’s busy as a bee; 

Grandma’s sewing a useful gift, 

Grandpa’s giving the children a lift— 

Stringing corn for the Christmas tree. 

[Mother now comes on, goes to table, stirs, beats, turns sieve 
and shakes can of spice, pretending to pour in mixture 

from cup, etc.] 

Mother’s busy stirring things to bake, 

Cookies, big plum pudding, and a cake— 

She is famous for good things to eat; 

There ’ll be sugared doughnuts fat and round, 
Pumpkin pies from recipe renowned, 

And her little spice cakes, light and sweet. 

[As reading finishes she hurries out with bowl.] 

[Girl with dusting cap now comes on, carrying dust cloth. She 
dusts about briskly, rubbing table the mother worked on, 
arms of the chairs Grandfather and Grandmother are sit¬ 
ting in, etc.] 

Mollie has to make things clean and fine, 

Floors and furniture, everything must shine, 

Not a particle of dust be seen; 


144 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


Christmas company will come ere long— 

Mollie says ’t would be quite wrong 

If the house were not all spick-span clean. 

[She goes from , stage.] 

[Little girl with doll now enters, goes to center of stage and 
stands patting and hugging dolly and fixing its hair. At 
close of stanza she sits down on floor in front of Grand¬ 
mother and remains playing with dolly until curtain falls.] 
Little Esther tends with loving care 
A one-armed dolly with tousled hair 
And in her head a dreadful crack, 

Wondering, as she hugs and pets the dear, 

If for her good Santa Claus this year 
Will have a new doll in his pack. 

[ The two boys now enter, each with an armful of evergreen or 
each with a green wreath and a bunch of green. They 
stand beside Grandfather and Grandmother during the 
rest of the pantomime.] 

Then, with holly, pine, and evergreen, 

Come the boys to decorate the scene 
In honor of the holiday; 

E’en a bit of mistletoe bring in, 

For on Christmas Day it is no sin 
To take a kiss that comes your way. 

[Now enter the young lady and young man. As they come in 
the light is turned off, so there is but dim light on stage. 
Young lady goes over and stands under mistletoe in 
dreamy pose; young man stands to one side and back of 
her, then steps forward and kisses her. Grandmother lays 
down her work and gazes dreamily at the young lady.] 
Grandma gives a gentle little sigh, 

Dreaming of the days long since gone by, 

When she, beneath the mistletoe, 

Was caught and held in a close embrace, 

And kissed upon her blushing face 
By a gallant and heart-winning beau. 


CURTAIN FALLS 


PANTOMIMED SONGS AND PANTOMIMES 145 


A CHRISTMAS PARADE 
Myrtle Brooker Peterson 

In a certain First Grade room, a Christmas parade was 
voted a success by visitors, pupils, and teacher. Small express 
wagons decorated with evergreen boughs, with bits of cotton 
to represent snow, drawn by stocking-capped, mittened boys, 
about whose bodies were small strings of sleigh bells, formed 
the basis for the parade. 

In the first cart rode Holly, a small girl with a huge red hair 
ribbon and a green cheesecloth dress, made very simply. 
Mistletoe came next, attired in white, with a green hair ribbon 
carrying a sprig of mistletoe in her hand. The Christmas 
Fairy, with a silver crown and silver wand made of tinsel 
paper, and butterfly wings, rode next. A boy carrying a 
“huge” Christmas tree, purchased at the Ten Cent Store, 
came next. 

On the next cart, a huge Christmas candle, made of red 
drawing paper, surrounded by small, lighted “really, truly” 
candles rode. A wagon load of toys, brought to school by the 
children, was the next part of the parade. 

Then came a small “really, truly” decorated Christmas 
tree. Last of all, came Santa Claus, a small boy wearing a 
Santa suit, over his shoulder a bulging sack of toys. 

After passing around the room several times to the jolly 
music of the sleigh bells, the carts and their occupants were 
lined up in the front of the room to form a background for 
the remainder of the program. 

Primary Education 


THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS 

A SHADOW PLAY FOR ANY NUMBER OF CHILDREN 

Linda S. Connelly 
Materials Needed 

Light weight frame for large bed sheet. 

Light (electric, if possible, with reflector) hong a little above the 
waist level of children. 


146 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


Mantel made from cardboard. 

Stockings. 

Santa’s sleigh made from cardboard and nailed to a little chair. 
Santa Claus suit, pipe and bag. 

Tasseled nightcap for father. 

Eight cardboard reindeer pinned on a lath to appear harnessed. 

The poem is recited by individual children accompanying the shadow 
play; the light is extinguished twice to allow change of scenery as 
indicated. Windows must be darkened. 


Scene I : Bedroom 

’Twas the night before Christmas and all through the 
house 

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. 

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care 
In' hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. 

The children were nestled all snug in their beds 
While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads. 

And mamma in her kerchief and I in my cap 
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap, 
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter 1 
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. 2 
Away to the window I flew like a flash, 3 
Tore open 4 the shutters and threw v up the sash. 

1 Sit up in bed and listen. 

2 Jump out of bed and pause, listening. 

3 Run to window. 

4 Open curtains, raise window and lean out of ‘ ‘ window ” on a table 
at edge of lighted screen. 


Scene II: Lawn 

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow 
Gave a lustre of mid-day to objects below, 

When what to my wondering eyes should appear 
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer, 

With a little old driver, so lively and quick, 1 
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. 

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came 

And he whistled 2 and shouted and called them by name. 


CO T* 


PANTOMIMED SONGS AND PANTOMIMES 147 


Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen, 3 
On Comet, on Cupid, on Donder and Blitzen. 

To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall 
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all. 4 

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly 
When they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky, 

So up to the housetop the coursers they flew 
With a sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas too. 5 

1 Santa snaps whip and jiggles reins. 

2 Remove pipe from mouth and lean forward whispering names as 
reciter says them. 

Lean forward and shake reins. 

Crack whip over backs. 

5 Just as light is extinguished raise end of lath to simulate reindeer 
rising from ground. 


Scene III : Another View of Bedroom 

And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof 
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. 

As I drew in my head and was turning around 1 
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. 2 
He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot 
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. 3 
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, 4 
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. 
His eyes how they twinkled, his dimples how merry, 
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry, 

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow 
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow. 
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth 
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. 

He had a broad face and a little round belly 5 
That shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly. 
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf; 

And I laughed 6 when I saw him in spite of myself. 

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head 7 
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. 

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work 
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk, 8 


148 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


And laying his finger aside of his nose 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 
And giving a nod 10 up the chimney he rose. 11 

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle 12 
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle, 

But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight, 

“ Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!’ ’ 

1 Pa shuts window and turns around and starts at sight of Santa. 

2 Santa jumps down from chair behind fireplace. 

3 Santa sets pack down and brushes off soot. 

4 Santa begins filling of stockings—looking at different toys. 

5 Santa holds up jumping-jack from pack and doubles up laughing. 

6 Pa quickly eovers mouth with hand while laughing. 

7 Santa looks at Pa over shoulder. 

8 Santa puts bag on shoulder and turns facing fireplace. 

9 Santa lays finger aside of his nose. 

10 Santa gives a nod. 

11 Santa steps on chair behind fireplace and disappears. 

12 Pa leans out of window. 


SONGS AND MUSIC 


DREARY DECEMBER 

Marie Irish 

Tune : Beulah Land 

December brings the chilling breeze, 

When winds blow through the leafless trees; 

From gray skies fall the drifting snows, 

And Jack Frost nips the children’s toes. 

Chorus : 

Oh, deary me! Oh, deary me! 

The days are cold as cold can be; 

Yet this month we love very well, 

The reason we to you will tell— 

We love it well, hooray, hooray! 

December brings us Christmas Day. 

The river’s still, the flowers are dead, 

The merry song birds south have fled; 

But in our homes there’s Christmas cheer, 

And Santa Claus 'will soon be here. 

Chorus 

Good things there are for us to eat— 

Cakes, puddings, pies, and candies sweet; 

With loving friends we ’ll merry be 
Around the shining Christmas tree. 

Chorus 

Of selfishness let us beware; 

Our Christmas joys we all should share; 

To give to others is the way 
To have a merry Christmas Day. 

Chorus 


149 


150 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


JUST BE MERRY 
Marie Irish 

Tune : Work for the Night Is Coming 

Some girls like blue-eyed dollies, 
With curls of flaxen hue; 

Others want dolls with brown eyes— 
Nothing else will do; 

But which one Santa brings you, 
Whether blue eyes or brown, 

Love her and say your dolly 
Is the best in town. 

Frank wants a sled for Christmas, 
Will wants an auto spry, 

Fred thinks he’d like an airship 
To sail in the sky; 

But whether drum or bicycle, 

Pony or shining sleigh, 

Say it’s fine and be merry 
Upon Christmas Day. 

Some folks eat goose for Christmas, 
Some favor nice roast beef; 

Others are fond of chicken, 

Some think turkey chief; 

But which is set before you 
Eat it with right good will, 

Do not look cross or grumble— 

Just be merry still. 

Don’t let some foolish fancy 
Darken your merry day; 

Christmas brings many pleasures, 

So be glad and gay; 

Whatever comes or does n’t come 
Enjoy it with a will; 

Just keep your face a-smiling 
And be merry still. 


SONGS AND MUSIC 


151 


CHRISTMAS IS COMING 
Marie Irish 

Tune : The Old Oaken Bucket 

’T is coming, ’t is coming, oh, hang up the holly; 

The whole world is merry, and we ’re smiling, too; 

Come join in our carols, don’t be melancholy, 

The season’s gay greetings we ’re bringing to you. 

Chorus : 

C-h-r-i-s-t and m-a-s, Christmas, 

The day of remembrance and kinship and mirth ; 

C-h-r-i-s-t and m-a-s, Christmas, 

The day of the Bethlehem Babe’s holy birth. 

The bell-chiming Christmas, the holly-twined Christmas, 
The gift-giving Christmas that girdles the earth. 

0 ’er Judean hillsides the angels were singing 
Of peace upon earth and good will among men; 

And now while the glad chimes of Christmas are ringing 
We bring you that message of good will again. 

Chorus 


If you would discover the true joy of living, 

’T is easy to find it upon Christmas Day; 

Forget all your troubles and get busy giving— 

Just g-i-v-e and expect no repay. 

Chorus 


OLD SANTA CLAUS 

M. Nora Boylan 

Tune: Yankee Doodle 

Old Santa Claus is a jolly man 
Who brings us lots of toys, sir ; 

And none are happier Christmas time 
Than little girls and boys, sir. 


SANTA, WE’LL BE GOOD! 


T. B. W. 


T. B. Weaver 





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1. San - ta loves the girls and boys Who try to do the right, 

2. We ex-pect dear San-ta Claus Our Christmas gifts to bring, 

3. How we love dear old Saint Nick Who comes when we’re in bed; 

4. Here is some-thing we can do To thank him as we should; 



E - ven if they sometimes fail While try -ing with their might. 
But we nev- er thank him once Or give him an - y - thing. 
We should glad-ly have him stay With us a week in - stead. 
Then we’ll try to do the right And be po - lite and good. 1 

Chorus: 



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(1) After the singing of the fourth stanza, one of the pupils reads a letter addressed to 
Santa Claus, expressing the wishes and thanks of the children; then the chorus should be 
sung, and the class might use a pretty step or waltz drill before leaving the stage. 

152 




























































































































SING A SONG 

T. B. W. 


FOR SANTA CLAUS 

T. B. Weaver 


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ta Claus, And fill his heart with joy; 
ta Claus, Who brings us Christmas cheer, 


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Hur-rah! hur-rah for San-ta Claus, Our jol - ly Win - ter King! 
Let’s sing our song of thanks and praise, And fill his heart with glee. 
In some sweet way, tho’ short his stay, To hear each girl and boy. 

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KRISS KRINGLE 

T. B. W. T. B. Weaver 



1. Go to sleep, children, with tired, cur - ly heads, Co - zi - ly 

2. Sleek are his rein-deer and spry as a mouse—Nim - bly they 

3. Ma - ny choice pres-ents, just what each child wills, Oft - en Kriss 

4. Jol - ly Kriss Krin - gle to all of us dear, Bring-ing us 



tucked in your queer lit - tie beds; All sorts of stock-ings are 

climb to the top of the house; Then with a bound down the 

leaves by the stock-ings he fills; He is a won-der to 

pres - ents of love and good cheer: Each hap - py child has a 









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hung in a row, ’Tis the night be-fore Christmas, you know, 

chira - ney Kriss goes; Fills the stockings from tops to the toes, 

know children’s dreams; And to them ver-y strange it all seems, 

hug and a kiss Sweet as hon - ey for jol - ly old Kriss. 



154 


















































































Kriss Kringle—Concluded 

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HEY! FOR A MERRIE CHRISTMAS! 


T. B. W. T. B. Weaver 




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peace and good will come to ev - ’ry one, With a 



157 



























































































CHRISTMAS GIFTS 


T. B. W. 


T. B. Weaver 


{Each stanza may be sung by a single pupil.) 


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1. What can I give this Christmas Since pric-es are so ver - y high? 

2. What can I give this Christmas Since pric-es are so ver - y high? 

3. What can I give this Christmas Since pric-es are so ver - y high? 

4. What can I give this Christmas Since pric-es are so ver - y high? 


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A kiss as sweet as hon-ey, With-out a cent of mon-ey, A 


Of old Dutch hugs a doz - en To set your ears a-buz-zin’, A 
A smile of joy and glad-ness, To drive a - way some sadness, A 
A wish of health and treasure, Sue-cess and peace and pleasure, A 


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gift we cannot sell or buy—That is what I shall give this Christmas, 

gift we cannot sell or buy—That is what I shall give this Christmas, 

gift we cannot sell or buy—That is what I shall give this Christmas, 

gift we cannot sell or buy—That is what I shall give this Christmas. 


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158 







































































CHRISTMAS GAMES 


CHRISTMAS RHYTHMS AND GAMES 
Nina B. Lamkin 

Christmas time, with its peculiar charm and fascination for 
every child, never grows old, but always brings with it fresh 
inspiration, joy, and anticipation. 

The child of six years knows what he wants old St. Nicholas 
to bring him. He not only knows, but he can show you whal 
he is asking for. The boy or girl of ten enjoys dramatizing 
his or her wants just as keenly as the little folks. 

You can easily classify the rhythms for the different ages, 
when you have the list of those suggested by the children them¬ 
selves. We like to sit in a circle on the floor, and, beginning 
with Mary, each of us acts out something which we want for 
Christmas and the others guess what it is. We first tell what 
kind of music we want—“slow, fast, real fast, sleepy, lively, 
soft,” are some of the types called for by the children. The 
pianist brings out the rhythm by accenting the first note of 
each measure or the first note of every other measure, etc., as 
the case may be. In the first and second grades, we have dolls, 
doll cradles, swings, tops, jumping jacks, games, balls, etc. 

In the third and fourth grades we have ponies, train on the 
track, kites, footballs, automobiles, etc. By the time we have 
been around the circle our eyes are sparkling, we have almost 
had our Christmas in anticipation. A wonderful amount of 
ear training and rhythm are learned at informal times as these. 

Other Suggestive Rhythms for the Month 

Ringing Christmas bells. 

Hanging up the stockings. 

Decorating the Christmas tree. 

Blowing up balls for tree. 

Lighting candles and putting on tree. 

Primary Education 


159 


160 MERRY CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS 


CHRISTMAS BELLS 
Rebecca Deming Moore 

To play Christmas Bells you will need some sleigh bells or, 
if these are not to be had, a little call bell will do. Select a 
leader and blindfold him. The others stand in a circle about 
the blindfolded player and pass the bells from hand to hand, 
jingling them merrily. The one in the center, by following 
the sound, tries to catch the player who holds the bells. If any 
one is caught with them in his hands, he must be blindfolded 
and take his place in the center. 

The fun in the game lies in passing the bells so quickly that 
the leader is at a loss in which direction to turn. 

Popular Educator 


CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS 
Rebecca Deming Moore 

Distribute pencils and small stocking-shaped cards. These 
have printed on one side the title, “What I Found in My 
Christmas Stocking,” and under that, the names of ten gifts 
that might be found in a stocking. The letters of these are 
entirely mixed up. The game is to straighten out these 
jumbled letters and to find out what is really in the stocking. 
Here is a suggestion for such a stocking game: 


1 

oldl 

doll 

6 

okob 

book 

2 

zeulpz 

puzzle 

7 

grin 

ring 

3 

geenni 

engine 

8 

onbbir 

ribbon 

4 

yancd 

candy 

9 

serup 

purse 

5 

noemy 

money 

10 

neroga 

orange 


A little stocking filled with candy is the prize for the one 
who has the largest number of correct answers on his stocking 
card at the end of a given time. 

Popular Educator 


SUPPLEMENTARY READERS 

-FOR ALL GRADES- 

BOW-WOW AND MEW-MEW 

By Georgiana M. Craik. Edited by Joseph C. Sindelar 

The story of a young dog and cat, and one of the few books for 
beginners in reading that may be classed as literature. The story, 
the style, and the moral are all good. 

32 illustrations in colors. 95 pages. Cloth. Price, 32 cents 

THE NIXIE BUNNY BOOKS 

By Joseph C. Sindelar 

Nixie Bunny in Manners-Land—A Rabbit Story of Good Manners 
Nixie Bunny in Workaday-Land—A Rabbit Story of the Occupations 
Nixie Bunny in Holiday-Land—A Rabbit Story of the Holidays 

The Nixie Bunny Books have been read by over 75,000 children 
in two years. They are unsurpassed in popularity by any children’s 
books ever published. Adopted as supplementary readers in the 
second and third grades by hundreds of towns and cities all over 
the country, including Chicago, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Worcester 
(Mass.), etc. Sheeted by fourteen states for reading circle and 
school library purposes. They are interestingly written, attractively 
illustrated, pedagogically arranged, well graded, and teach enough of 
value to pay for the time spent in their reading. Each book has 144 
pages, with from 64 to 90 illustrations in colors. Cloth. Price, 
each, 45 cents. 

THE PROGRESSIVE SCHOOL CLASSICS 

A new series of reading books, which offers the highest class of 
literature for all grades at very small cost. No other series at so low 
a price contains the valuable features of this series, namely: accurate 
and authentic texts, notes and numbered lines for reference, portraits, 
biographical sketches, illustrations, new type, good paper and bind¬ 
ing, and convenient size. 

Bow-Bow and Mew-Mew—Craik—Grades 1-2—95 pages (12 cents) 
Peter Rabbit and Other Tales—Grades 2-3 
The King of the Golden River—Ruskin—Grades 4-6 
Rip Van Winkle and the Author’s Account of Himself—Irving— 
Grades 5-8 

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow—Irving—Grades 5-8 

Thanatopsis, Sella and Other Poems—Bryant—Grades 5-8 

The Courtship of Miles Standish—Longfellow—Grades 6-8 

The Pied Piper of Hamelin and Other Poems—Browning—Grades 6-8 

Evangeline—Longfellow—Grades 6-8 

The Great Stone Face—Hawthorne—Grades 6-8 

The Man Without a Country—Hale—Grades 6-8 

Snow-Bound and Other Poems—Whittier—Grades 6-8 

Enoch Arden—Tennyson—Grades 6-H. S. 

The Vision of Sir Launfal and Other Poems—Lowell—Grades 6-H. S. 
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner—Coleridge—Grades 7-H. S. 

The Cotter’s Saturday Night and Other Poems—Burns—Grades 7-H. S. 
The Deserted Village (Goldsmith) and Elegy—Gray—Grades 7-H. S. 

Price, per copy, 5 cents, postpaid, unless otherwise mentioned 

128-page illustrated Catalogue of Books mailed upon request 


BECKLEY-CARDY CO 


Publishers 


CHICAGO 






LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 


OTHER CHRISTMAS 

THE BEST CHRISTMAS 

By Joseph C. Sindelar 


033 261 326 1 


Here is a wealth of new ideas, and a complete program for everyone, uon- 
tains 82 recitations, 36 quotations, 4 monologues and readings, 10 dialogues, 
exercises and plays, 8 original songs with music, 6 songs of new words to old 
tunes, 10 fancy drills and motion songs, 5 tableaux, 4 pantomimes and pantomimed 
songs, 14 facts regarding Christmas, 

192 pages, illustrated. Price, 30 cents. 


CHRISTMAS AT STEBBINSES’ 

By Marie Irish 

A Christmas comedy in two scenes, for five male and five female charac¬ 
ters. Time, thirty minutes. Scene, an easy interior. A humorous play 
with considerable of the Christmas spirit. Price, 15 cents. 


SUSAN GREGG’S CHRISTMAS ORPHANS 

By Marie Irish 

A Christmas comedy in two acts, for seven male and five female charac¬ 
ters, and as many more as may be desired. Time, thirty minutes. Scenes, 
a street and a living room, easily arranged. What happened in response 
to an advertisement signed “Lonely”. Price, 15 cents. 

NEW COMMON-SCHOOL SONG BOOK 
By Laura Rountree Smith, Arthur Schuckai and others 
Has 49 songs for special days, among which are nine Christmas songs 
and three New Year songs. 174 large pages. Boards. Price, 40 cents. 


FANCY CALENDAR PADS 

Decorated and printed in colors. Price, per dozen pads, 12 cents. 

BLACKBOARD STENCILS 


The designs vary in size according to the demands of the subjects, bnt 
a large proportion of them are approximately 124x36 inches, large enough 
to be clearly seen across any schoolroom. Order by number—not neces¬ 
sary to give names. Directions for use stamped on each design. 

Price, each 5 cents; 6 for 25 cents. 


623 December Calendar 

624 January Calendar 

379 “Merry Christmas” (lettered) 

380 “Happy New Year” (lettered) 

381 “Peace on Earth, Good Will 

Toward Men” (lettered) 

545 Christmas Star Border 

560 Holly Border 

561 Mistletoe Border 

562 Poinsettia Border 


700 Jolly Santa Claus 

701 Santa Claus and Sleigh 

702 Bringing in the Christmas Tree 

703 Christmas Tree 

704 Dancing ’Round the Tree 

705 The Star in the East 

706 The Wise Men 

708 The Little Santa Claus 

709 Birds’ Christmas Dinner 


Send for Complete List of About 500 Subjects, Free! 


GUMMED CHRISTMAS SEALS 


Richly printed in Christmas colors and gold, and gummed. Christmas 
bell, holly, Santa Claus, and poinsettia. Packed 50 seals of one design in 
cardboard box. Price, per box, 10 cents, per dozen boxes, $1.00. 

CHRISTMAS CARDS AND LEAFLETS. 

Ranging 'in price from 15 cents per ten to 80 cents per ten. Send us 
amount you wish to invest and we will make a good selection, or write 
for complete catalogue. 


BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY, CHICAGO 











































